TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS, 

A  BIOGRAPHY  OF 

MAJOK-GENERAL  ZACHARY  TAYLOR; 

Jr    ' 

AND    SKETCHES   OF    THE    LIVES    OF 

GENERALS  WORTH,  WOOL,  AND  TWIGGS; 

7ITH    A    FULL    ACCOUNT  OF    THE    VARIOUS    ACTIONS    OF    THEIR  DIVISIO 
IN    MEXICO    UP    TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME  | 


TOGETHER   WITH 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  BOMBARDMENT  OF  VERA  CRUZ, 

AND  A  SKETCH    OF   THE    LIFE    OF 

MAJOR-GENERAL  WINFIELD  SCOTT. 


3Bmbellfsi)etJ  toft])  portraits 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED  BY  E.  H.  BUTLER  &  CO. 

1847. 


H(UTiT TH/ ?< 


Entered  according  to  an  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1847,  by 
E.  H.  BUTLER  &  Co., 

MI  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  in  and  for  the  Eastern 
District  of  Pennsylvania. 


E.  B.  HEARS,  STEREOTYPER. 
SMITH  AND  PETERS,  PRINTERS. 


\\°i\s-  © 


PREFACE. 

THERE  probably  has  never  been,  in  the  course  of  our 
brief  history  as  a  nation,  a  time  of  such  intense  general 
excitement,  as  that  immediately  preceding  the  first 
engagement  between  the  Americans  and  the  Mexicans 
in  the  present  war.  We  have  perhaps  had  on  other 
occasions  excitements  of  a  local  character  equally  in 
tense.  But  in  this  instance  the  feeling  was  of  the  most 
pervading  kind,  reaching  every  part  of  the  great  repub 
lic.  We  have  perhaps  had  other  causes  that  have 
agitated  more  deeply  and  gravely  the  foundations  of 
society;  but  here,  the  lack  of  depth  to  the  general  feel 
ing  seemed  to  be  compensated  by  its  intensity.  It  was 
jiot  so  much  the  deep  and  distant  upheavings  of  the 
earthquake,  as  the  wild  and  frightful  sweep  of  the  hur 
ricane.  It  was  as  if  the  whole  American  people  had 
been  suddenly  changed  into  one  mass,  as  if  the  whole 
twenty  millions  had  become  one  man,  and  stood  with 
listening  ear  to  hear  the  first  sound  that  should  be 
borne  upon  the  southern  breeze.  It  was  not  unlike 
the  human  body,  when  a  painful  surgical  operation  is 
about  to  be  performed  on  some  one  point.  Every  other 
part  or  limb  is  alive  with  apprehension.  The  whole 
body  seems  to  live  in  that  one  spot  where  the  point  of 
the  knife  is  about  to  enter.  So  was  it  here.  The  whole 


IV  PREFACE. 

American  people  seemed  for  a  day  or  two  to  live  at 
Point  Isabel.  The  heart  of  a  great  people  seemed  for 
a  time  to  send  its  every  pulsation  through  that  small 
and  distant  artery.  Then  it  was  —  in  that  moment  of 
breathless  anxiety  —  when  the  whole  nation,  wrought 
to  a  state  of  wild  excitement,  turned  its  expectant  eye 
towards  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande,  that  the  anxious 
inquiry  arose  spontaneously  in  every  quarter, 

WHO  IS  GENERAL  TAYLOR  ? 

;ro  bud  eqeiftsq       _  :.,   $&  R, 

The  answer  has  been  given  —  an  answer  that  has  sent 

through  the  heart  of  the  American  people  a  thrill  of 
delight  as  intense  and  pervading  as  the  anxiety  which 
preceded  it  —  an  answer  written  in  living  characters  upon 
the  fields  of  Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey, 
and  Buena  Vista.  The  present  volume  is  the  transcript 
of  that  answer.  It  is  a  translation  into  words  of  those 
glorious  deeds  by  which  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS,  and 
his  illustrious  COMPEER  told  the  world,  who  and  what 
they  are.  It  is  an  attempt  to  place  within  the  reach  of 
every  American  citizen,  a  permanent  and  lively  recoid 
of  deeds  and  men  that  will  for  ever  form  a  part  of  the 

>>iiJ    :. 

inheritance  of  American  patriotism. 
^**  Dtmifi.'  IK*  3£irt  on-*  ifida  o.f   iii!i    pirur-viail 

fiu  m.  *xH'ft    ...-*««v   ;  intidi       '' 
K;*o 

/*  .ro    sno  *»noa  no 


c«  9flo 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Early  life  of  General  Taylor — Enters  the  Army  as  Lieutenant- 
Promoted  to  a  Captaincy — Service  in  the  War  of  1812 — Gal 
lant  defence  of  Fort  Harrison — Promotion  to  the  rank  of 
Major Page  13 

CHAPTER  II. 

Promotion  to  the  rank  of  Colonel — Service  in  Florida — Battle 
of  Okee  Chobee 23 

CHAPTER  III. 

Promotion  to  the  rank  of  General — Commands  the  Army  of 
Occupation — Commencement  of  hostilities  ....  40 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la  Palma — Captain  May's 
brilliant  charge- — Retreat  of  the  Mexicans 5~ 

CHAPTER  V. 

Taylor's  humanity — Exchange  of  prisoners— Our  army  crosses 
the  Rio  Grande — Capture  of  Matamoras 75 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Siege  and  capture  of  Monterey 81 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  battle  of  Buena  Vista      .     .  '• 14D 

*••'..'  '     X  •  • '  t.-  \      * 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Anecdotes  and  incidents  of  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista — In 
stances  of  individual  gallantry — Notices  of  distinguished 
officers  among  the  slain — Santa  Anna's  Despatch  .  .  178 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Events  subsequent  to  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista    />  ^, .... .    210 

WORTH   .    .:  *?  ^-^^V^-'^^'*  ^^-^  .    217 

WOOL 239 

i'bnj'i't'n?    '^:t~- >'",-•   '••••> *•}<'*    -,-.      '•'  ,;:•;!;  r-I  -.jyJtomfc'iS 
TWIGGS . !o.*D^^    26 

A  Sketch  of  the  Life  of  General  SCOTT,  with  an  Account  of 
the  Bombardment  of  Vera  Cruz         269 


TAYLOR 

AND    HIS    GENERALS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Early  life  of  General  Taylor— Enters  the  Army  as  Lieutenant — 
Promoted  to  a  Captaincy— Service  in  the  War  of  1812— Gal 
lant  defence  of  Fort  Harrison — Promotion  to  the  rank  of 
Major. 

GENERAL  ZACHARY  TAYLOR  was  born  in  Orange 
county,  Virginia,  in  the  year  1790.  His  father,  Colonel 
Richard  Taylor,  soon  after  the  birth  of  Zachary,  removed 
his  residence  to  the  state  of  Kentucky,  and  settled  near 
Louisville. 

At  the  age  of  six  years,  Zachary  Taylor  was  placed 
under  a  private  tutor,  Mr.  Ayres,  who  was  peculiarly 
fitted  for  the  task  of  instruction,  and  gave  that  true  di 
rection  to  the  dawning  powers  of  his  pupil  which  suv 
sequent  events  have  so  signally  evinced. 

With  respect  to  the  general's  youth,  all  accounts 
agree  in  describing  it  as  one  of  rare  promise  for  a  mili 
tary  man.  He  early  showed  a  predilection  for  the 
exercises  and  accomplishments  which  become  a  soldier; 
and  he  clearly  exhibited  those  traits  of  character  which 
a  soldier's  life  demands. 


14  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

His  desire  to  enter  the  army  was  gratified  by  his  father, 
\vhose  influence  obtained  for  him  in  the  year  1808  a 
lieutenancy  in  the  seventh  regiment  of  infantry  of  the 
United  States  army.  This  period  was  one  in  which  the 
irritation  of  our  countrymen  against  Great  Britain,  in 
consequence  of  her  impressments  of  seamen  and  seizure 
of  merchant  vessels  under  orders  in  council,  was  greatly 
aggravated  by  the  outrageous  attack  on  the  frigate  Ches 
apeake.  Everything  portended  an  immediate  war. 

Before  the  war  broke  out  in  1812  he  had  risen  to  the 
rank  of  captain,  and  being  ordered  for  service  in  the 
western  country,  he  was  engaged  in  repelling  the  border 
warfare  of  the  Indians,  which  immediately  succeeded 
the^fall  of  Detroit  and  the  surrender  of  General  Hull's 
army. 

The  first  notice  which  we  find  in  the  history  of  the 
war  of  Captain  Taylor's  operations,  is  the  account  of 
his  splendid  defence  of  Fort  Harrison. 

Captain  Taylor,  says  Mr.  Palmer,  commander  at  Fort 
Harrison,  having  received  information  of  the  approach  of 
the  hostile  Indians  a  short  time  before  they  made  their 
appearance,  had  used  every  precaution  that  the  smallness 
of  his  garrison  would  admit  of.  The  first  hostile  symp 
toms  appeared  on  the  evening  of  the  3d  of  September, 
when  two  young  men,  who  had  been  employed  a  short 
distance  from  the  fort,  were  shot  and  scalped,  and  were 
found  in  that  condition  the  next  morning  by  a  small  party 
that  had  been  sent  out  to  seek  them.  This  circumstance 
caused  them  to  redouble  their  vigilance  ;  and  the  officers 
of  the  guard  were  directed  to  walk  the  round  all  night, 
in  order  if  possible  to  prevent  any  surprise. 

About  11  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  4th,  the  gar 
rison  being  alarmed  by  the  firing  of  one  of  the  sentinels, 
every  man  instantly  flew  to  his  post.  In  a  few  minutes 


TAYLOR.  15 

the  cry  of  fire  added  to  the  alarm ;  when  it  was  dis 
covered  that  the  lower  block-house,  in  which  had  been 
deposited  the  property  of  the  contractor,  had  been  fired 
by  the  Indians.  Such  was  the  darkness  of  the  night, 
that  although  the  upper  part  of  the  building  was  occupied 
by  a  corporal's  guard  as  an  alarm  post,  yet  the  Indians 
succeeded  in  firing  it  undiscovered,  and  unfortunately,  a 
few  minutes  after  the  discovery  of  the  fire,  it  communi 
cated  to  a  quantity  of  whiskey  that  had  been  deposited 
there,  and  immediately  ascended  to  the  roof,  baffling 
every  effort  that  was  made  to  extinguish  it.  As  the 
block-house  adjoined  the  barracks,  which  constituted 
part  of  the  fortifications,  most  of  the  men  gave  them 
selves  up  for  lost ;  and  indeed  the  raging  of  the  fire*  the 
yells  of  the  Indians,  and  the  cries  of  the  women  and 
children  (who  had  taken  refuge  in  the  fort),  were  suffi 
cient  to  appal  the  stoutest  heart.  Happily  the  presence 
of  mind  of  the  commander  never  forsook  him.  He  in 
stantly  stationed  a  part  of  his  men  on  the  roof  of  the 
barracks,  with  orders  to  tear  off  that  part  adjoining  the 
block-house,  while  the  remainder  kept  up  a  constant  fire 
on  the  Indians  from  another  block-house  and  two  bas 
tions.  The  roof  was  torn  ofF  under  a  shower  of  bullets 
from  without,  by  which,  however,  only  one  man  was 
killed  and  two  wounded. 

By  this  success  the  soldiers  were  inspired  with  firm 
ness,  and  now  used  such  exertions,  that  before  day 
they  had  not  only  extinguished  the  fire,  but  raised  a 
breast-work  five  or  six  feet  high  in  the  gap  occasioned 
by  the  burning  of  the  block-house,  although  the  Indians 
continued  to  pour  in  a  heavy  fire  of  ball  and  showers 
of  arrows  during  the  whole  time  the  attack  lasted  (which 
was  seven  hours),  in  every  part  of  the  parade. 

.On  the  first  appearance  of  the  fire,  two  of  the  soldiers 


16  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

had,  in  despair,  jumped  the  pickets.  One  of  them  re 
turned  about  an  hour  before  day,  and,  running  up 
towards  the  gate,  begged  for  God's  sake  that  it  might 
be  opened.  On  suspicion  that  it  was  an  Indian  strata 
gem,  he  was  fired  at.  He  then  ran  to  the  other  bastion, 
where,  his  voice  being  known,  he  was  directed  to  lie 
down  till  day-light  behind  an  empty  barrel  that  happened 
to  be  outside  of  the  pickets.  This  poor  fellow  was  shock 
ingly  wounded,  and  his  companion  cut  to  pieces  by  the 
Indians. 

After  keeping  up  a  constant  fire  till  six  in  the  morning, 
which  after  day-light  was  returned  with  considerable 
effect  by  the  garrison,  the  Indians  retreated  out  of  reach 
of  tie  guns.  They  then  drove  together  all  the  horses 
and  hogs  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  shot  them  in  sight 
of  their  owners.  The  whole  of  the  horned  cattle  they 
succeeded  in  carrying  off. 

In  this  attack  the  Americans  had  but  three  killed  and 
three  wounded,  including  the  two  that  jumped  the 
pickets.  The  Indian  loss  was  supposed  to  be  conside 
rable,  but  as  they  always  carry  off  both  their  dead  and 
wounded,  the  amount  could  not  be  ascertained.  At  the 
moment  of  the  attack  there  were  only  fifteen  effective 
men  in  the  garrison,  the  others  being  either  sick  or  con 
valescent. 

The  Indians,  disheartened  by  this  failure,  made  no 
further  attempt  on  the  fort,  but  the  garrison  still  re 
mained  in  a  perilous  situation,  as  the  greater  part  of 
their  provisions  had  been  destroyed  by  the  fire,  and  the 
loss  of  their  stock  prevented  future  supplies.  Captain 
Taylor  therefore  attempted  to  send,  by  night,  two  men 
in  a  canoe  down  the  river  to  Vincennes,  to  make  known 
his  situation,  but  they  were  forced  to  return,  the  river 
being  found  too  well  guarded.  The  Indians  had  made 


TAYLOR.  17 

a  fire  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  a  short  distance  below 
the  garrison,  which  gave  them  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
any  craft  that  might  attempt  to  pass,  with  a  canoe  ready 
below  to  intercept  it.  A  more  fortunate  attempt  was 
made  by  land,  and  the  garrison  was  immediately  after 
relieved  by  the  force  under  General  Hopkins,  consisting 
of  nearly  4000  men. 

After  the  relief  of  Fort  Harrison,  Hopkins  began  his 
preparations  for  his  expedition  against  the  Peoria  towns. 
They  commenced  their  march  on  the  morning  of  the 
15th  of  October,  and  continued  it  for  four  days  in  a 
direction  nearly  north.  But  here  the  spirit  of  insub 
ordination  began  to  show  itself.  The  general  states  in 
his  official  despatch,  that  having  ordered  a  halt  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  4th  day,  in  a  fine  piece  of  grass,  for  the 
purpose  of  refreshing  the  horses,  he  was  addressed  by 
one  of  his  majors,  in  the  most  rude  and  dictatorial  man 
ner,  requiring  him  instantly  to  resume  his  march,  or  his 
battalion  would  break  from  the  army  and  return.  Of 
the  reply  of  the  general  to  this  modest  request  we  are 
not  informed.  Next  evening,  however,  an  event  took 
place,  which  seems  to  have  spread  the  spirit  of  discon 
tent  through  the  whole  detachment.  A  violent  gust  of 
wind  having  arisen  about  sun-set,  just  as  the  troops  had 
encamped,  the  Indians  set  fire  to  the  prairie  all  around 
them,  which  drore  furiously  on  the  camp.  They  suc 
ceeded,  however,  in  firing  the  grass  around  the  encamp 
ment. 

Next  morning,  in  consequence  of  the  discontent  that 
prevailed,  the  general  called  a  council  of  his  officers,  to 
whom  he  stated  his  apprehensions,  the  expectations  of 
the  country,  and  the  disgrace  attending  the  failure  of  the 
expedition  ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  the  exhausted  state 
of  the  horses,  and  the  want  of  provisions.  He  then  re- 


18  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

quested  the  commandants  of  each  regiment  to  convene 
the  whole  of  the  officers  belonging  to  it,  and  to  take 
fully  the  sense  of  the  army  on  the  measures  to  be  pur 
sued  ;  adding,  that  if  500  volunteers  turned  out  he 
would  put  himself  at  their  head,  and  proceed  in  quest 
of  the  Indian  towns,  and  the  rest  of  the  army  might 
return  to  Fort  Harrison.  In  less  than  an  hour  the  report 
was  made  almost  unanimously  to  return.  In  vain  did 
the  general  request  that  he  might  dictate  the  course  for 
that  day  only.  His  authority  was  now  at  an  end  ;  and 
all  the  efforts  of  the  officers  were  necessary  to  restore 
order  in  the  ranks,  and  to  conduct  the  retreat  without 
danger  from  the  surrounding  though  unseen  foe. 

Though  this  expedition  returned  almost  without  obtain 
ing  the  sight  of  an  enemy,  yet  it  was  not  altogether 
unproductive  of  benefit.  The  Indians  of  the  neighbour 
ing  towns,  hearing  of  its  approach,  had  marched  the 
greater  part  of  their  warriors  to  meet  it,  leaving  their 
villages  in  a  defenceless  condition.  In  this  state  they 
were  found  by  Colonel  Russell,  who  had  inarched  upon 
them  in  the  expectation  of  meeting  with  Hopkins'  army, 
and  his  detachment  attacked  and  defeated  those  who  had 
been  left  behind.  Having  driven  them  into  a  swamp, 
through  which  the  rangers  pursued  them  for  three  miles, 
up  to  their  waists  in  mud  and  water,  he  returned  and 
burnt  their  towns,  and  destroyed  their  corn.  The  num 
ber  of  warriors  who  advanced  to  meet  Hopkins  from 
those  towns  is  stated  to  have  amounted  to  700 ;  Russell's 
force  consisted  of  not  more  than  400  men.  A  conside 
rable  number  of  Indians  were  killed  in  this  attack.  On 
the  part  of  the  Americans  there  were  only  four  wounded, 
none  of  them  mortally. 

Craig's  force  was  still  smaller  than  that  under  Russell ; 
it  is  stated  to  have  consisted  of  not  more  than  80  men. 


TAYLOR. 


19 


With  this  small  body  he  marched  up  the  Illinois  river, 
twenty  miles  above  the  town  destroyed  by  Russell. 
Here  he  attacked  an  Indian  settlement,  which  he  totally 
destroyed,  with  all  the  improvements,  and  took  forty-two 
prisoners,  one  of  them  an  Englishman,  and  a  large  col 
lection  of  furs.  He  returned  with  his  prisoners  and 
booty,  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 

In  the  month  of  November  another  Indian  expedition 
was  undertaken  by  General  Hopkins,  with  about  1250 
men.  This  was  directed  against  the  towns  on  the 
Wabash,  where  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  had  been  fought 
about  twelve  months  before.  Having  left  Fort  Harrison 
on  the  llth,  accompanied  with  boats  for  the  transporta 
tion,  of  provisions,  forage,  and  military  stores,  Hopkins 
arrived  at  the  Prophet's  town  on  the  19th,  without  inter 
ruption.  Early  in  the  morning  of  that  day,  300  men 
were  detached  to  surprise  the  Winnebago  town,  on  Ponce 
Passu  creek,  a  short  distance  below  the  Prophet's. 
Having  surrounded  it  about  the  break  of  day,  they  were 
surprised  to  find  it  evacuated.  The  party  accordingly, 
after  destroying  it,  rejoined  the  main  body  at  the  Pro 
phet's  town. 

For  three  days  Hopkins'  detachment  was  employed 
in  achieving  the  complete  destruction  of  the  Prophet's 
town,  and  the  large  Kickapoo  village  adjoining,  the 
former  consisting  of  40  and  the  latter  of  160  cabins  and 
huts.  They  likewise  destroyed  all  their  cultivated  fields, 
fences,  &c.,  and  constructed,  works  for  the  defence  of 
the  boats  and  of  the  encampment. 

On  the  21st  a  reconnoitering  party  were  attacked  by 
a  body  of  Indians,  and  one  of  their  number  killed.  The 
following  day  sixty  horsemen  were  despatched  to  bury 
their  comrade,  and  gain  a  better  knowledge  of  the  ground  , 
but  they  unfortunately  fell  into  an  ambuscade,  in  which 


20  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

eighteen  of  the  party  were  killed,  wounded,  or  missing. 
This  party,  on  their  return,  brought  information  of  a 
large  assemblage  of  the  enemy,  who,  encouraged  by  the 
strength  of  their  camp,  appeared  to  be  waiting  an  attack. 
Every  preparation  was  accordingly  made  to  march  early 
next  morning,  to  engage  the  enemy.  A  violent  fall  of 
snow,  however,  prevented  the  movement  on  the  23d ; 
and  the  camp  was  found  abandoned  on  the  following 
day.  The  position  which  the  Indians  had  thus  abandon 
ed  is  spoken  of  as  having  been  remarkable  strong.  The 
Ponce  Passu,  a  deep  rapid  creek,  was  in  their  rear, 
running  in  a  semicircle ;  in  front  was  a  bluff,  100  feet 
high,  almost  perpendicular,  and  only  to  be  penetrated  by 
three  steep  ravines. 

On  the  return  of  the  troops  to  camp,  the  river  was 
found  so  full  of  ice,  as  to  alarm  them  for  the  return  of 
the  boats.  Hopkins  had  intended  to  have  spent  one 
week  more  in  endeavouring  to  find  the  Indian  camps ; 
but  the  shoeless,  shirtless  state  of  the  troops,  now  clad 
in  the  remnants  of  their  summer  dress ;  a  river  full  of 
ice,  the  hills  covered  with  snow;  and,  above  all,  the 
uncertainty  of  finding  the  enemy,  all  these  circumstances 
determined  him  to  return.  They  accordingly  set  out  on 
the  25th,  and  in  a  few  days  arrived  at  Fort  Harrison, 
having  completed  a  march  of  upwards  of  100  miles  into 
the  Indian  country,  which  is  totally  devoid  of  roads,  and 
destroyed  three  of  their  principal  towns,  in  the  space  of 
less  than  twenty  days. 

The  last  Indian  expedition  of  which  mention  is  made, 
in  this  quarter,  is  one  which  was  commanded  by  Colonel 
Campbell,  consisting  of  600  men,  which  marched  from 
Greenville,  (Ohio)  against  the  towns  on  the  Mississinewa, 
a  branch  of  the  Wabash. 

On  the  17th  of  December,  after  marching  all  night, 


TAYLOR.  21 

Campbell  arrived  at  one  of  the  towns  about  day-break, 
which  he  instantly  attacked,  and  the  Indians  were  driven 
across  the  Mississinewa  river,  with  the  loss  of  seven  killed 
and  thirty-seven  prisoners.  Only  one  American  was  killed 
and  one  wounded  in  this  skirmish.  After  securing  the 
prisoners,  a  part  of  the  detachment  was  despatched  down 
the  river,  who  returned  the  same  day,  having  burnt  three 
villages  without  resistance.  They  then  encamped  on 
the  ground  where  the  first  village  stood. 

The  following  morning,  a  little  before  day-light,  the 
camp  was  attacked  by  a  body  of  Indians,  supposed  to 
be  about  300.  They  commenced  their  attack  on  the 
right,  with  a  horrid  yell.  After  a  desperate  conflict  of 
about  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  a  charge  was  made  by 
the  cavalry,  which  forced  the  Indians  to  retreat,  leaving 
forty  killed  on  the  field.  In  this  affair  the  Americans  had 
eight  killed,  and  twenty-five  or  thirty  wounded. 

Another  attack  was  anticipated,  as  information  was 
received  that  Tecumseh,  with  four  or  five  hundred 
warriors,  was  only  fifteen  miles  from  the  scene  of  action ; 
but  reinforcements  shortly  after  arriving  from  Greenville, 
they  effected  their  retreat  without  molestation. 

The  gallant  defence  of  Fort  Harrison  by  Captain 
Taylor  was  duly  appreciated  by  President  Madison,  who 
immediately  promoted  the  intrepid  commander  to  the 
rank  of  Major.  During  the  remainder  of  the  war  of 
1812  he  was  actively  employed  in  the  western  country, 
but  as  he  had  no  opportunity  of  again  distinguishing 
himself  in  a  separate  command,  we  are  not  able  to  trace 
his  movements. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  Major  Taylor  was 
employed  in  the  western  country  at  the  various  posts 
where  the  demands  of  the  service  required  his  presence. 
A  time  of  peace  affords  few  materials  for  biography  in 


22  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

the  life  of  a  soldier  ;  but  it  affords  the  soldier  himself  the 
best  opportunity  for  completing  many  parts  of  his  mili 
tary  education.  Taylor's  great  eminence  in  every  branch 
of  the  military  art  affords  sufficient  proof  that  this  period 
was  employed  in  the  most  diligent  study,  as  far  as  the 
requisitions  of  the  service  would  permit.  And  it  is 
equally  certain  that  his  reading  could  not  have  been  con 
fined  exclusively  to  works  on  the  art  of  war.  He  read 
the  finest  models  of  English  composition  :  and  we  see  the 
result  in  his  published  despatches,  which  are  all  models 
of  style,  attracting  the  unbounded  admiration  of  the  first 
scholars  of  the  age  both  in  Europe  and  America. 


rnw  sift 


o 


•'y       '  I1    .*? 

'to  TRW  ,a*{ i  "Jo  $?ol 


CHAPTER  II. 

Promotion  to  the  rank  of  Colonel — Service  in  Florida — Battle 
of  Okee  Chobee. 

IN  1832  Taylor  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of  colonel. 
On  the  commencement  of  war  in  Florida  he  was  ordered 
on  service  in  that  district.  This  contest  was,  as  every 
one  knows,  what  General  Jackson  called  his  own  Semi- 
nole  war,  "  a  war  of  movements."  It  consisted  almost 
entirely  of  pursuits  and  attempts  to  surround  the  Indians, 
which  they  were  generally  successful  in  eluding. 

Colonel  Taylor,  however,  was  more  fortunate  than  his 
predecessors ;  and  in  December  1837  he  was  able  to  bring 
on  a  general  action  at  Okee  Chobee,  which  is  best  described 
in  his  own  very  able  despatch,  as  follows : 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  FIRST  BRIGADE, 
ARMY  SOUTH  OF  THE  WITHLACOOCHEE. 
Fort  Gardner,  Jan.  4;  1838. 

SIR  :  On  the  19th  ultimo  I  received  at  this  place  a 
communication  from  Major-General  Jessup,  informing 
me  that  all  hopes  of  bringing  the  war  to  a  close  by 
negotiation,  through  the  interference  or  mediation  of  the 
Cherokee  delegation,  were  at  an  end,  Sam  Jones,  with 
the  Mickasukies,  having  determined  to  fight  it  out  to  the 
last ;  and  directing  me  to  proceed  with  the  least  possible 
delay  against  any  portion  of  the  enemy  I  might  hear 
of  within  striking  distance,  and  to  destroy  or  capture 
them. 

2 


24  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

After  leaving  two  officers  and  an  adequate  force  for 
the  protection  of  my  depot,  I  marched  the  next  morning 
with  twelve  days'  rations  (my  means  of  transportation 
not  enabling  me  to  carry  more),  with  the  balance  of  my 
command,  consisting  of  Captain  Mun roe's  company  of 
the  4th  artillery,  total  thirty-five  men  ;  the  1st  infantry, 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Davenport, 
one  hundred  and  ninety-seven  strong ;  the  4th  infantry 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  -  Colonel  Foster, 
two  hundred  and  seventy  -  four ;  the  6th  infantry, 
under  Lieutertant-Colonel  Thompson,  two  hundred  and 
twenty-one  ;  the  Missouri  volunteers,  one  hundred  and 
eighty  ;  Morgan's  spies,  forty-seven  ;  pioneers,  thirty  ; 
pontoneers,  thirteen  ;  and  seventy  Delaware  Indians ; 
making  a  force,  exclusive  of  officers,  of  1032  men  ; 
the  greater  part  of  the  Shawnees  having  been  detached, 
and  the  balance  refusing  to  accompany  me,  under  the 
pretext  that  a  number  of  them  were  sick,  and  the  re 
mainder  were  without  moccasins. 

I  moved  down  the  west  side  of  the  Kissimrnee,  in  a 
south-easterly  course,  towards  Lake  Istopoga,  for  the 
following  reasons:  First,  because  I  knew  that  a  portion 
of  the  hostiles  were  to  be  found  in  that  direction ; 
second,  if  General  Jessup  should  fall  in  with  the  Micka- 
sukies  and  drive  them,  they  might  attempt  to  elude 
him  by  crossing  the  Kissimmee  from  the  east  to  the  west 
side  of  the  peninsula,  between  this  and  its  entrance  into 
Okee  Chobee,  in  which  case  I  might  be  near  at  hand  to 
intercept  them ,'  third,  to  overawe  and  induce  such  of 
the  enemy  who  had  been  making  propositions  to  give 
themselves  up,  and  who  appeared  very  slow,  if  not  to 
hesitate,  in  complying  with  their  promises  on  that  head, 
to  surrender  at  once  ;  and  lastly,  I  deemed  it  advisable 
to  erect  block-houses,  and  a  small  picket  work  on  the 


TAYLOR.  25 

Kissimmee,  for  a  third  depot,  some  forty  or  fifty  miles 
below  this,  and  obtain  a  knowledge  of  the  intervening 
country,  as  I  had  no  guide  who  could  be  relied  on,  and 
by  this  means  open  a  communication  with  Colonel 
Smith,  who  was  operating  up  the  Calooseha tehee,  or 
Sanybel  River,  under  my  orders. 

Late  in  the  evening  of  the  first  day's  march,  I  met  the 
Indian  chief,  Jumper,  with  his  family,  and  a  part  of 
his  band,  consisting  of  fifteen  men,  a  part  of  them 
with  families,  and  a  few  negroes — in  all,  sixty-three 
souls — on  his  way  to  give  himself  up,  in  conformity 
to  a  previous  arrangement  I  had  entered  into  with 
him.  They  were  conducted  by  Captain  Parks,  and  a 
few  Shawnees.  He  (Parks)  is  an  active  and  intelligent 
half-breed,  who  is  at  the  head  of  the  friendly  Indians, 
both  Shawnees  and  Delawares,  and  whom  I  had  employed 
to  arrange  and  bring  in  Jumper,  and  as  many  of  his 
people  as  he  could  prevail  on  to  come  in.  We  encamped 
that  night  near  the  same  spot ;  and  the  next  morning, 
having  ordered  Captain  Parks  to  join  me,  and  take  com 
mand  of  the  Delawares,  and  having  despatched  Jumper 
in  charge  of  some  Shawnees  to  this  place,  and  so  on  to 
Fort  Frazer,  I  continued  my  march,  after  having  sent 
forward  three  friendly  Seminoles  to  gain  intelligence  as 
to  the  position  of  the  enemy. 

About  noon  on  the  same  day,  I  sent  forward  one 
battalion  of  Gentry's  regiment  under  command  of  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Price,  to  pick  up  any  stragglers  that 
might  fall  in  his  way ;  to  encamp  two  or  three  miles  in 
advance  of  the  main  force ;  to  act  with  great  circum 
spection,  and  to  communicate  promptly  any  occurrence 
that  might  take  place  in  his  vicinity  important  for  me  to 
know.  About  10  P.  M.,  I  received  a  note  from  the 
colonel,  stating  that  the  three  Seminoles  sent  forward  in 


26  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

the  morning  had  returned  ;  that  they  had  been  at  or 
where  Alligator  had  encamped,  twelve  or  fifteen  miles 
in  his  advance ;  that  he  (Alligator)  had  left  there  with 
a  part  of  his  family  four  days  before,  under  the  pretext 
of  separating  his  relations,  &c.,  from  the  Mickasukies, 
preparatory  to  his  surrendering  with  them ;  that  there 
were  several  families  remaining  at  the  camp  referred  to, 
who  wished  to  give  themselves  up,  and  would  remain 
there  until  we  took  possession  of  them,  unless  they  were 
forcibly  carried  off  that  night  by  the  Mickasukies,  who 
were  encamped  at  no  great  distance  from  them. 

In  consequence  of  this  intelligence,  after  directing 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Davenport  to  follow  me  early  in  the 
morning  with  the  infantry,  a  little  after  midnight  I  put 
myself  at  the  head  of  the  residue  of  the  mounted  men, 
joined  Lieutenant-Colonel  Price,  proceeded  on,  crossing 
Istopoga  outlet,  and  soon  after  daylight  took  possession 
of  the  encampment  referred  to,  where  I  found  the  in 
mates,  who  had  not  been  disturbed.  They  consisted  of 
an  old  man  and  two  young  ones,  and  several  women  and 
children,  amounting  in  all  to  twenty-two  individuals.  The 
old  man  informed  me^  that  Alligator  was  very  anxious  to 
separate  his  people  from  the  Mickasukies,  who  were 
encamped  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Kissimmee,  distant 
about  twenty  miles,  where  they  would  fight  us.  I  sent 
him  to  Alligator,  to  say  .to  him,  if  he  was  sincere  in  his 
professions,  to  meet  me  the  next  day  at  the  Kissimmee, 
where  the  trail  I  was  marching  on  crossed,  and  where  I 
should  halt. 

As  soon  as  the  infantry  came  up,  I  moved  on  to  the 
place  designated,  which  I  reached  late  that  evening,  and 
where  I  encamped.  About  11  P.  M.  the  old  Indian 
returned,  bringing  a  very  equivocal  message  from  Alli 
gator,  whom,  he  stated,  he  had  met  accidentally.  Also, 


TAYLOR.  27 

that  the  Mickasukies  were  still  encamped  where  they 
had  been  for  some  days,  and  where  they  were  determined 
to  fight  us. 

I  determined  at  once  on  indulging  them  as  soon  as  prac 
ticable.  Accordingly,  the  next  morning,  after  laying 
out  a  small  stockade  work  for  the  protection  of  a  future 
depot,  in  order  to  enable  me  to  move  with  the  greatest 
celerity,  I  deposited  the  whole  of  my  heavy  baggage, 
including  artillery,  &c.,  and  having  provisioned  the  com 
mand,  to  include  the  26th,  after  leaving  Captain  Munroe 
with  his  company,  the  pioneer,  pontoneers,  with  eighty- 
five  sick  and  disabled  infantry,  and  a  portion  of  the 
friendly  Indians,  who  alleged  that  they  were  unable  to 
march  further,  crossed  the  Kissimmee,  taking  the  old 
Indian  as  a  guide  who  had  been  captured  the  day  be 
fore,  and  who  accompanied  us  with  great  apparent 
reluctance  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  early  the  next 
day  reached  Alligator's  encampment,  situated  on  the 
edge  of  Cabbage-tree  hammock,  in  the  midst  of  a  large 
prairie;  from  the  appearance  of  which,  and  other  en 
campments  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  many  evidences  of 
slaughtered  cattle,  there  must  have  been  several  hundred 
individuals. 

At  another  small  hammock  at  no  great  distance  from 
Alligator's  encampment  and  surrounded  by  a  swamp, 
impassable  for  mounted  men,  the  spies  surprised  an 
encampment  containing  one  old  man,  four  young 
young  men,  and  some  women  and  children.  One  of  the 
party  immediately  raised  a  white  flag,  when  the  men 
were  taken  possession  of  and  brought  across  the  swamp 
to  the  main  body.  I  proceeded  with  an  interpreter  to 
meet  them.  They  proved  to  be  Seminoles,  and  pro 
fessed  to  be  friendly.  They  stated  that  they  were 
preparing  to  come  in  :  they  had  just  slaughtered  a 


28  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

number  of  cattle,  and  were  employed  in  drying  and 
jerking  the  same.  They  also  informed  me  that  the 
Mickasukies,  headed  by  A-vi-^a-ka  (Sam  Jones),  was 
some  ten  or  twelve  miles  distant,  encamped  in  a  swamp, 
and  were  prepared  to  fight. 

Although  I  placed  but  little  confidence  in  their  pro 
fessions  of  friendship,  or  their  intentions  of  coming  in,  yet  I 
'had  no  time  to  look  up  their  women  and  children,  who 
had  fled  and  concealed  themselves  in  the  swamp,  or  to 
have  encumbered  myself  with  them  in  the  situation  in 
which  I  then  was. 

Accordingly,  I  released  the  old  man,  who  promised 
that  he  would  collect  all  the  women  and  children,  and 
take  them  in  to  Captain  Munroe,  at  the  Kissimmee,  the 
next  day.  I  also  dismissed  the  old  man  who  had  acted 
as  guide  thus  far,  supplying  his  place  with  the  four  able 
warriors  who  had  been  captured  that  morning. 

These  arrangements  being  made,  I  moved  under  their 
guidance  for  the  camp  of  the  Mickasukies.  Between 
two  and  three  P.  M.,  we  reached  a  very  dense  cypress 
swamp,  through  which  we  were  compelled  to  pass,  and 
in  which  our  guides  informed  us  we  might  be  attacked. 
After  making  the  necessary  dispositions  for  battle,  it 
was  ascertained  that  there  was  no  enemy  to  oppose  us. 
The  army  crossed  over  and  encamped  for  the  night,  it 
being  late.  During  the  passage  of  the  rear,  Captain 
Parks,  who  was  in  advance  with  a  few  friendly  Indians, 
fell  in  with  two  of  the  enemy's  spies,  between  two  or 
three  miles  of  our  camp — one  on  horseback,  the  other 
on  foot — and  succeeded  in  capturing  the  latter.  He 
v/as  an  active  young  warrior,  armed  with  an  excellent 
rifle,  fifty  balls  in  his  pouch,  and  an  adequate  proportion 
of  powder.  This  Indian  confirmed  the  information 
which  had  previously  been  received  from  the  other 


TAXLOK.  29 

Indians,  and  in  addition,  stated  that  a  large  body  oi  the 
Seminoles,  headed  by  John  Cohua,  Co-a-coo-chee,  and, 
no  doubt,  Alligator,  with  other  chiefs,  were  encamped 
five  or  six  miles  from  us,  near  the  Mickasukies,  with  a 
cypress  swamp  and  dense  hammock  between  them  and 
the  latter. 

The  army  moved  forward  at  daylight  the  next  morn 
ing,  and,  after  marching  five  or  six  miles,  reached  the 
camp  of  the  Seminoles  on  the  borders  of  another  cypress 
swamp,  which  must  have  contained  several  hundred, 
and  bore  evident  traces  of  having  been  abandoned  in  a 
great  hurry,  as  the  fires  were  still  burning,  and  quan 
tities  of  beef  lying  on  the  ground  unconsumed. 

Here  the  troops  were  again  disposed  of  in  order  of 
battle,  but  we  found  no  enemy  to  oppose  us,  and  the  com 
mand  was  crossed  over  about  11  A.  M.,  when  we  entered 
a  large  prairie  in  our  front,  on  which  two  or  three  hun 
dred  head  of  cattle  were  grazing,  and  a  number  of 
Indian  ponies.  Here  another  young  Indian  warrior 
was  captured,  armed  and  equipped  as  the  former.  He 
pointed  out  a  dense  hammock  on  our  right,  about  a  mile 
distant,  in  which  he  said  the  hostiles  were  situated  and 
waiting  to  give  us  battle. 

At  this  place  the  final  disposition  was  made  to  attack 
them,  which  was  in  two  lines ;  the  volunteers  under 
Gentry,  and  Morgan's  spies,  to  form  the  first  line  in 
extended  order,  who  were  instructed  to  enter  the  ham 
mock,  and,  in  the  event  of  being  attacked  and  hard 
pressed,  were  to  fall  back  in  rear  of  the  regular  troops, 
out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's  fire ;  the  second  line  was 
composed  of  the  4th  and  6th  infantry,  who  were  in 
structed  to  sustain  the  volunteers,  the  1st  infantry  being 
held  in  reserve. 

Moving  on  in  the  direction  of   the  hammock,  after 


30  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

proceeding  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  we  reached  the 
swamp  which  separated  us  from  the  enemy,  three  quar 
ters  of  a  mile  in  breadth,  being  totally  impassable  for 
horse,  and  nearly  so  for  foot,  covered  with  a  thick 
growth  of  saw-grass  five  feet  high,  about  knee  deep  in 
mud  and  water,  which  extended  to  the  left  as  far  as  the 
eye  could  reach,  and  to  the  right  to  a  part  of  the  swamp 
and  hammock  we  had  just  crossed,  through  which  ran 
a  deep  creek.  At  the  edge  of  the  swamp  all  the  men 
were  dismounted,  and  the  horses  and  baggage  left  under 
a  suitable  guard.  Captain  Allen  was  detached  with  the 
two  companies  of  mounted  infantry  to  examine  the 
swamp  and  hammock  to  the  ri^ht ;  and,  in  case  he 
should  not  find  the  enemy  in  that  direction,  was  to/  re 
turn  to  the  baggage,  and,  in  the  event  of  his  hearing  a 
heavy  firing,  was  immediately  to  join  me. 

After  making  these  arrangements,  I  crossed  the  swamp 
in  the  order  stated.  On  reaching  the  borders  of  the 
hammock,  the  volunteers  and  spies  received  a  heavy  fire 
from  the  enemy,  which  was  returned  by  them  for  a  short 
time,  when  their  gallant  commander,  Colonel  Gentry, 
fell,  mortally  wounded.  They  mostly  broke,  and  in 
stead  of  forming  in  the  rear  of  the  regulars,  as  had 
been  directed,  they  retired  across  the  swamp  to  their 
baggage  and  horses,  nor  could  they  be  again  brought 
into  action  as  a  body,  although  efforts  were  made  re 
peatedly  by  my  staff  to  induce  them  to  do  so. 

The  enemy,  however,  were  promptly  checked  and 
driven  back  by  the  4th  and  6th  infantry,  which  in  truth 
might  be  said  to  be  a  moving  battery.  The  weight  of 
the  enemy's  fire  was  principally  concentrated  on  five 
companies  of  the  6th  infantry,  which  not  only  stood 
fiiin,  but  continued  to  advance  until  their  gallant  com 
mander,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Thompson,  and  his  adjutant, 


TAYLOR.  31 

Lieutenant  Center,  were  killed ;  and  every  officer, 
with  one 4  exception,  as  well  as  most  of  the  non-com 
missioned  officers,  including  the  sergeant-major  and  four 
of  the  orderly  sergeants,  killed  and  wounded  of  those 
companies ;  when  that  portion  of  the  regiment  retired 
to  a  short  distance  and  were  again  formed,  one  of  these 
companies  having  but  four  members  left  untouched. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Foster,  with  six  companies,  amount 
ing  in  all  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  gained  the 
hammock  in  good  order,  where  he  was  joined  by  Cap 
tain  Noel,  with  the  two  remaining  companies  of  the  6th 
infantry,  and  Captain  Gillam,  of  Gentry's  volunteers, 
with  a  few  additional  men,  and  continued  to  drive  the 
enemy  for  a  considerable  time,  and  by  a  change  of  front 
separated  his  line,  and  continued  to  drive  him  until  he 
reached  the  great  lake  Okee  Chobee,  which  was  in  the 
rear  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  on  which  their  en 
campment  extended  for  more  than  a  mile.  As  soon  as  I 
was  informed  that  Captain  Allen  was  advancing,  I 
ordered  the  first  infantry  to  move  to  the  left,  gain  the 
enemy's  right  flank  and  turn  it,  which  order  was  execu 
ted  in  the  promptest  manner  possible ;  and  as  soon  as 
that  regiment  got  in  position,  the  enemy  gave  one  fire 
and  retreated,  being  pursued  by  the  1st,  4th,  and  6th, 
and  some  of  the  volunteers  who  had  joined  them,  until 
near  night,  and  until  these  troops  were  nearly  exhausted, 
and  the  enemy  driven  in  all  directions. 

The  action  was  a  severe  one,  and  continued  from 
half  past  twelve  until  after  three  P.  M.,  a  part  of  the 
time  very  close  and  severe.  We  suffered  much, 
having  twenty-six  killed  and  one  hundred  and  "twelve 
wounded,  among  whom  are  some  of  our  most  valuable 
officers.  The  hostiles  probably  suffered,  all  things 
considered,  equally  with  ourselves,  they  having  left  ten 


32  TAYLOB  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

dead  on  the  ground,  besides,  doubtless,  carrying  off 
many  more,  as  is  customary  with  them  when  practicable. 
As  soon  as  the  enemy  were  completely  broken,  I 
turned  my  attention  to  taking  care  of  the  wounded, 
to  facilitate  their  removal  to  my  baggage,  where  I 
ordered  an  encampment  to  be  formed  ;  I  directed  Captain 
Taylor  to  cross  over  to  the  spot,  and  employ  every 
individual  whom  he  might  find  there  in  constructing  a 
small  footway  across  the  swamp ;  this,  with  great  ex 
ertions,  was  completed  in  a  short  time  after  dark,  when 
all  the  dead  and  wounded  were  carried  over  in  litters 
made  for  that  purpose,  with  one  exception,  a  private  of 
he  4th  infantry,  who  was  killed  and  could  not  be  found. 
And  here,  I  trust  I  may  be  permitted  to  say  that  I 
experienced  one  of  the  most  trying  scenes  of  my  life, 
and  he  wrho  could  have  looked  on  it  with  indifference, 
his  nerves  must  have  been  very  differently  organized 
from  my  own ;.  besides  the  killed,  there  lay  one  hundred 
and  twelve  wounded  officers  and  soldiers,  who  had 
accompanied  me  one  hundred  and  forty-five  miles,  most 
of  the  way  through  an  unexplored  wilderness,  without 
guides,  who  had  so  gallantly  beaten  the  enemy,  under 
my  orders,  in  his  strongest  position,  and  who  had  to  be 
conveyed  back  through  swamps  and  hammocks,  from 
whence  we  set  out,  without  any  apparent  means  oi 
doing  so.  This  service,  however,  was  encountered  and 
overcome,  and  they  have  been  conveyed  thus  far,  and 
proceeded  on  to  Tampa  Bay,  on  rude  litters,  constructed 
with  the  axe  and  knife  alone,  with  poles  and  dry  hides — 
the  latter  being  found  in  great  abundance  at  the  encamp 
ment  of  the  hostiles.  The  litters  were  conveyed  on  the 
backs  of  our  weak  and  tottering  horses,  aided  by  the 
residue  of  the  command,  with  more  ease  and  comfort  to 
the  sufferers  than  I  could  have  supposed,  and  with  as 


TAVLOK.  3d 

much  as  they  could  have  been  in  ambulances  of  the  most 
improved  and  modern  construction. 

The  day  after  the  battle  we  remained  at  our  encamp 
ment,  occupied  in  taking  care  of  the  wounded,  and  in 
the  sad  office  of  interring  the  dead  ;  also,  in  preparing 
litters  for  the  removal  of  the  wounded,  and  collecting 
with  a  portion  of  the  mounted  men  the  horses  and  cattle 
in  the  vicinity  belonging  to  the  enemy,  of  which  we 
found  about  one  hundred  of  the  former,  many  of  them 
saddled,  and  nearly  three  hundred  of  the  latter. 

We  left  our  encampment  on  the  morning  of  the  27th 
for  the  Kissimmee,  where  I  had  left  my  heavy  baggage, 
which  place  we  reached  about  noon  on  the  28th,  after 
leaving  two  companies  and  a  few  Indians  to  garrison  the 
stockade,  which  I  found  nearly  completed  on  my  return, 
by  that  active  and  vigilant  officer,  Captain  Munroe,  4th 
artillery.  I  left  there  the  next  morning  for  this  place, 
where  I  arrived  on  the  31st,  and  sent  forward  the 
wounded  next  day  to  Tampa  Bay,  with  the  4th  and 
6th  infantry,  the  former  to  halt  at  Fort  Frazer,  remain 
ing  here  myself  with  the  1st,  in  order  to  make  prepa 
rations  to  take  the  field  again  as  soon  as  my  horses  can 
be  recruited,  most  of  which  have  been  sent  to  Tampa y 
and  my  supplies  in  a  sufficient  state  of  forwardness  to 
justify  the  measure. 

In  speaking  of  the  command,  I  can  only  say,  that  so 
far  as  the  regular  troops  are  concerned,  no  one  could 
have  been  more  efficiently  sustained  than  I  have  been 
from  the  commencement  of  the  campaign;  and  I  am 
certain  that  they  will  always  be  willing  and  ready  to 
discharge  any  duty  that  may  be  assigned  them. 

To  Lieutenant-Colonel  Davenport,  and  the  officers  and 
soldiers  of  the  1st  infantry,  I  feel  under  many  obligations 
for  the  manner  in  which  they  have,  on  all  occasions,  dis- 


34  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

charged  their  duty  ;  and  although  held  in  reserve  and 
not  brought  into  battle  until  near  its  close,  it  evinced,  by 
its  eagerness  to  engage,  and  the  promptness  and  good 
order  with  which  they  entered  the  hammock  when  the 
order  was  given  for  them  to  do  so,  is  the  best  evidence 
that  they  would  have  sustained  their  own  characters, 
as  well  as  that  of  the  regiment,  had  it  been  their  fortune 
to  have  been  placed  in  the  hottest  of  the  battle. 

The  4th  infantry,  under  their  gallant  leader,  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Foster,  was  among  the  first  to  gain  the  ham 
mock,  and  maintained  this  position,  as  well  as  driving  a 
portion  of  the  enemy  before  him,  until  he  arrived  on  the 
borders  of  Lake  Okee  Chobee,  which  was  in  the  rear, 
and  continued  the  pursuit  until  near  night.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Foster,  who  was  favourably  noticed  for  his  gal 
lantry  and  good  conduct  in  nearly  all  the  engagements 
on  the  Niagara  frontier  during  the  late  war  with  Great 
Britain,  by  his  several  commanders,  as  well  as  in  the 
different  engagements  with  the  Indians  in  this  territory, 
never  acted  a  more  conspicuous  part  than  in  the  action 
of  the  25th  ult. ;  he  speaks  in  the  highest  terms  of 
the  conduct  of  Brevet-Major  Graham,  his  second  in  com 
mand,  as  also  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  4th  in 
fantry,  who  were  engaged  in  the  action.  Captain 
Allen,  with  his  two  mounted  companies  of  the  4th  in 
fantry,  sustained  his  usual  character  for  promptness  and 
efficiency.  Lieutenant  Hooper,  of  the  4th  regiment,  was 
wounded  through  the  arm,  but  continued  on  the  field  at 
the  head  of  his  company,  until  the  termination  of  the 
battle. 

I  am  not  sufficiently  master  of  words  to  express  my 
admiration  of  the  gallantry  and  steadiness  of  the  officers 
and  soldiers  of  the  6th  regiment  of  infantry.  It  was 
their  fortune  to  bear  the  brunt  of  the  battle.  The  re- 


TAYLOR.  35 

port  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  which  accompanies  this, 
is  more  conclusive  evidence  of  their  merits  than  any 
thing  I  can  say.  After  five  companies  of  this  regiment, 
against  which  the  enemy  directed  the  most  deadly  fire, 
was  nearly  cut  up,  there  being  only  four  men  left  unin 
jured  in  one  of  them,  and  every  officer  and  orderly 
sergeant  of  those  companies,  with  one  exception,  were 
either  killed  or  wounded,  Captain  Noel,  with  the  re 
maining  two  companies,  his  own  company,  "  K,"  and 
Grossman's,  "  B,"  commanded  by  Second  Lieutenant 
Woods,  which  was  the  left  of  the  regiment,  formed  on 
the  right  of  the  4th  infantry,  entered  the  hammock  with 
that  regiment,  and  continued  the  fight  and  the  pursuit 
until  its  termination.  It  is  due  to  Captain  Andrews  and 
Lieutenant  Walker,  to  say,  they  commanded  two  of 
the  five  companies  mentioned  above,  and  they  continued 
to  direct  them  until  they  were  both  severely  wounded 
and  carried  from  the  field ;  the  latter  received  three 
separate  balls. 

The  Missouri  volunteers,  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Gentry,  and  Morgan's  spies,  who  formed  the 
first  line,  and,  of  course,  were  the  first  engaged,  acted 
as  well,  or  even  better,  than  troops  of  that  description 
generally  do ;  they  received  and  returned  the  enemy's 
fire,  with  spirit,  for  some  time,  when  they  broke  and 
retired,  with  the  exception  of  Captain  Gillam  and  a  few 
of  his  company,  and  Lieutenant  Blakey,  also  with  a  few 
men,  who  joined  the  regulars,  and  acted  with  them,  un 
til  after  the  close  of  the  battle,  but  not  until  they  had 
suffered  severely ;  the  commanding  officer  of  the  volun 
teers,  Colonel  Gentry,  being  mortally  wounded  while 
leading  on  his  men,  and  encouraging  them  to  enter  the 
hammock,  and  come  to  close  quarters  with  the  enemy  ; 
his  son,  an  interesting  youth,  eighteen  or  nineteen  years 


36  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

of  age,  sergeant-major  of  the  regiment,  was  severely 
wounded  at  the  same  moment. 

Captain  Childs,  Lieutenants  Rogers  and  Flanagan,  of 
Gentry's  regiment,  Acting  Major  Sconce,and  Lieutenants 
Hase  and  Gordon,  of  the  spies,  were  wounded  while  en 
couraging  their  men  to  a  discharge  of  their  duty. 

The  volunteers  and  spies  having,  as  before  stated, 
fallen  back  to  the  baggage,  could  not  again  be  formed 
and  brought  up  to  the  hammock  in  anything  like  order ; 
but  a  number  of  them  crossed  over  individually,  and 
aided  in  conveying  the  wounded  across  the  swamp  to 
the  hammock,  among  whom  were  Captain  Curd,  and 
several  other  officers,  whose  names  I  do  not  now  recol 
lect. 

To  my  personal  staff,  consisting  of  First  Lieutenant 
J.  M.  Hill,  of  the  2d,  and  First  Lieutenant  Geo. 
H.  Griffin,  of  the  6th  infantry,  the  latter  aid-de-camp 
to  Major-General  Gaines,  and  a  volunteer  in  Florida 
from  his  staff,  I  feel  under  the  greatest  obligations  for 
the  promptness  and  efficiency  with  which  they  have  sus 
tained  me  throughout  the  campaign,  and  more  particu 
larly  for  their  good  conduct,  and  the  alacrity  with  which 
they  aided  me  and  conveyed  my  orders  during  the  action 
of  the  25th  ult. 

Captain  Taylor,  commissary  of  subsistence,  who  was 
ordered  to  join  General  Jessup  at  Tampa  Bay,  as  chief  of 
the  subsistence  department,  and  who  was  ordered  by  him 
to  remain  with  his  column  until  he,  General  Jessup, 
joined  it,  although  no  command  \vas  assigned  Captain 
Taylor,  he  greatly  exerted  himself  in  trying  to  rally  and 
bring  back  the  volunteers  into  action,  as  well  as  dis 
charging  other  important  duties  which  were  assigned  to 
him  during  the  action. 

Myself,  as  well  as  all  who  witnessed    the  attention 


TAYLOR.  37 

and  ability  displayed  by  Surgeon  Satterlee,  medical 
director  on  this  side  the  peninsula,  assisted  by  Assistant 
Surgeon  McLaren  and  Simpson,  of  the  medical  staff  of 
the  army,  and  Drs.  Hannah  and  Cooke,  of  the  Missouri 
volunteers,  in  ministering  to  the  wounded,  as  well  as 
their  uniform  kindness  to  them  on  all  occasions,  can 
never  cease  to  be  referred  to  by  me  but  with  the  most 
pleasing  and  grateful  recollections. 

The  quartermaster's  department,  under  the  direction 
of  that  efficient  officer,  Major  Brant,  and  his  assistant, 
Lieutenant  Babbitt,  have  done  everything  that  could  be 
accomplished  to  throw  forward  from  Tampa  Bay,  and 
keep  up  supplies  of  provisions,  forage,  &c.,  with  the 
limited  means  at  their  disposal.  Assistant  Commissaries 
Lieutenants  Harrison,  stationed  at  Fort  Gardner,  and 
McClure,  at  Fort  Fraser,  have  fully  met  my  expecta 
tions  in  discharge  of  the  various  duties  connected  with 
their  department,  as  well  as  those  assigned  them  in  the 
quartermaster's  department. 

This  column,  in  six  weeks,  penetrated  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  into  the  enemy's  country,  opened  roads, 
and  constructed  bridges  and  causeways,  when  necessary, 
on  the  greater  portion  of  the  route,  established  two  de 
pots,  and  the  necessary  defences  for  the  same,  and  finally 
overtook  and  beat  the  enemy  in  his  strongest  position. 
The  results  of  which  movement  and  battle  have  been 
the  capture  of  thirty  of  the  hostiles,  the  coming  in,  and 
surrendering  of  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  Indians 
and  negroes,  mostly  the  former,  including  the  chiefs  Ou- 
la-too-chee,  Tus-ta-nug-gee,  and  other  principal  men, 
the  capturing  and  driving  out  of  the  country  six  hun 
dred  head  of  cattle,  upwards  of  one  hundred  head  of 
horses,  besides  obtaining  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 


38  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

country  through  which  we  operated,  a  greater  portio.i 
of  which  was  entirely  unknown,  except  to  the  enemy. 

Colonel  Gentry  died  in  a  few  hours  after  the  battle, 
much  regretted  by  the  army,  and  will  be,  doubtless,  by 
all  who  knew  him,  as  his  state  did  not  contain  a  braver 
man  or  a  better  citizen. 

It  is  due  to  his  rank  and  talents,  as  well  as  to  his 
long  and  important  services,  that  I  particularly  mention 
Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  R.  Thompson,  of  the  6th  infantry, 
who  fell,  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  at  the  head  of  his 
regiment.  He  was  in  feeble  health,  brought  on  by  ex 
posure  to  this  climate  during  the  past  summer,  refusing 
to  leave  the  country  while  his  regiment  continued  in  it. 
Although  he  received  two  balls  from  the  fire  of  the  ene 
my,  early  in  the  action,  which  wounded  him  severely, 
yet  he  appeared  to  disregard  them,  and  continued  to  give 
his  orders  with  the  same  coolness  that  he  would  have 
done  had  his  regiment  been  under  review,  or  on  any 
parade  duty.  Advancing,  he  received  a  third  ball, 
which  at  once  deprived  him  of  life ;  his  last  words  were, 
"  Keep  steady,  men,  charge  the  hammock — remember 
the  regiment  to  which  you  belong."  I  had  known 
Colonel  Thompson  personally  only  for  a  short  time,  and 
the  more  I  knew  of  him  the  more  I  wished  to  know ; 
and  had  his  life  been  spared,  our  acquaintance,  no  doubt, 
would  have  ripened  into  the  closest  friendship.  Under 
such  circumstances,  there  are  few,  if  any,  other  than  his 
bereaved  wife,  mother,  and  sisters,  who  more  deeply  and 
sincerely  lament  his  loss,  or  who  will  longer  cherish  his 
memory,  than  myself. 

Captain  Van  Swearingen,  Lieutenant  Brooke,  and 
Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  Center,  of  the  same  regiment, 
who  fell  on  that  day,  had  no  superiors  of  their  years  in 
service,  and,  in  point  of  chivalry,  ranked  among  the  first 


TAYLOR. 


in  the  army  or  nation  ;  besides  their  pure  and  disinte 
rested  courage,  they  possessed  other  qualifications,  which 
qualified  them  to  fill  the  highest  grades  of  their  profes 
sion,  which,  no  doubt,  they  would  have  attained  and 
adorned  had  their  lives  been  spared.  The  two  former 
served  with  me  on  another  arduous  and  trying  campaign, 
and  on  every  occasion,  whether  in  the  camp,  on  the 
march,  or  on  the  field  of  battle,  discharged  their  various 
duties  to  my  entire  satisfaction. 
With  greatest  respect, 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR,  Col.  Com'g. 
To  Brig.  Gen.  R.  JONES,  Adj.  Gen.,  U.  S.  A.. 
Washington,  D.  C. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Promotion  to  the  rank  of  General — Commands  the  Army  qf 
Occupation — Commencement  of  hostilities. 

COLONEL  TAYLOR'S  conduct  in  the  battle  of  Okee  Cho- 
bee  was  duly  appreciated  by  the  government.  The  secre 
tary  of  war,  Mr.  Poinsett,  gave  him  the  warmest  com 
mendation  in  his  report  to  Congress ;  and  he  was 
immediately  promoted  to  the  brevet  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General,  with  the  chief  command  in  Florida.  His  head 
quarters  were  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Tampa  Bay. 
From  this  point,  he  directed  the  "  war  of  movements," 
so  difficult  and  discouraging  to  an  ardent  officer,  until 
1840,  when  he  was  relieved  by  General  Armistead,  who 
wras  now7  ordered  to  take  the  command  in  Florida. 

General  Taylor  was  now  ordered  to  the  command  of 
the  southern  department  of  the  army,  including  the 
states  of  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Alabama,  and  Georgia, 
with  his  head-quarters  at  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana. 
His  appointment  to  this  command  led  to  his  being  sub 
sequently  placed  at  the  head  of  the  «  Army  of  Occupa 
tion,"  which  has  since  covered  itself  with  glory. 

It  is  foreign  from  the  purpose  of  this  work  to  discuss 
the  causes  of  the  existing  war  with  Mexico,  in  which 

O  ' 

General  Taylor  has  so  remarkably  distinguished  himself. 
His  connexion  wTith  it  is  simply  that  of  a  military  com 
mander  acting  under  authority,  which  it  was  his  duty  to 
respect. 


TAYLOR.  41 

The  army  under  General  Taylor's  command  occupied 
a  position  at  Corpus  Christi,  west  of  the  Nueces,  as 
early  as  August,  1845,  having  been  ordered  to  take  a 
position  between  the  rivers  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  and 
to  repel  any  invasion  of  the  Texan  territory,  which 
might  be  attempted  by  the  Mexican  forces.  The  army 
occupied  this  position  from  August,  1845,  until  the  llth 
of  March,  1846,  when  it  removed  westward,  and  on  the 
20th  of  that  month  reached  the  Colorado,  where  some 
disposition  to  resist  its  progress  being  evinced  by  a 
Mexican  force,  the  army  was  formed  into  line  of  battle. 
A  road  was  then  opened  down  the  beach  of  the  river ; 
and  while  it  was  in  progress,  the  enemy  was  notified  by 
General  Taylor,  that  when  it  was  completed  he  should 
cross  the  river  and  fire  upon  any  one  who  appeared  in 
arms  to  oppose  his  march.  The  artillery  was  placed  so 
as  to  cover  the  ford,  arid  the  port-fires  wrere  lighted. 
General  Mejia,  aid  to  the  Mexican  commander,  now 
arrived  with  a  letter  to  General  Taylor,  apprising  him 
that  if  the  American  army  should  cross  the  Colorado,  it 
would  be  considered  a  declaration  of  war,  and  would 
immediately  be  followed  by  actual  hostilities. 

The  crossing  took  place  nevertheless  ;  and  that  too  at 
a  point  where  an  excellent  opportunity  wras  presented 
of  successfully  resisting  the  advance  of  the  Americans. 
On  the  22d  the  army  advanced  across  the  prairie  in  the 
direction  of  Matamoras;  but  General  Taylor,  hearing 
that  the  Mexicans  held  Point  Isabel,  halted.bn  the  24th, 
and  leaving  the  army  under  command  of  General  Worth, 
advanced  to  that  place  with  the  dragoons,  occupied  it, 
and  received  from  steamboats,  which  arrived  oppor 
tunely  at  the  same  time,  a  quantity  of  supplies  for  the 
army. 

Passing  by  the  spot  where  subsequently  the  battle  of 


4'2  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

Resaca  de  la  Palma  was  fought,  and  which  General 
Taylor  did  not  fail  to  point  out  as  a  favourable  position 
for  a  fight,  the  army  arrived  upon  the  east  bank  of  the 
Rio  Grande,  opposite  Matamoras,  at  noon  of  the  28th 
of  March.  General  Worth  and  his  staff  were  now 
ordered  to  cross  the  river  to  Matamoras,  bearing  des 
patches  from  General  Taylor  to  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  Mexicans  and  the  civil  authorities.  They  were 
met  by  a  Mexican  party,  bearing  a  white  flag,  who 
landed  on  the  eastern  bank  ;  and  an  interview  with  the 
authorities  was  requested  by  General  Worth.  After 
sojme  delay  he  was  invited  to  cross  the  river.  On 
reaching  the  right  bank^  he  was  met  by  General  Vega 
and  some  officers.  The  reception  of  the  despatches 
was  declined.  An  interview  with  the  American  consul 
at  Matamoras  was  demanded  and  refused,  and  General 
Worth  returned. 

General  Taylor  now  commenced  throwing  up  in- 
trenchments,  while  the  Mexicans  were  evincing  decisive 
symptoms  of  hostility.  Several  attempts  of  American 
soldiers  to  desert  were  defeated  by  shooting  the  deserters. 
One  was  killed  by  a  sentinel  at  a  distance  of  200  yards, 
after  swimming  the  river  and  commencing  his  ascent  on 
the  opposite  bank.  Some,  however,  succeeded,  and 
were  very  hospitably  received  in  Matamoras.  Soon  after 
the  following  proclamation  by  the  Mexican  general  fell 
into  the  hands  of  General  Taylor. 

The  Commander-in- Chief  of  the  Mexican  army,  to  the 
English  and  Irish  under  tJie  orders  of  the  American 
General  Taylor  : 

KNOW  YE  :  That  the  government  of  the  United  States 
is  committing  repeated  acts  of  barbarous  aggression 
against  the  magnanimous  Mexican  nation ;  that  the 


TAYLOR.  43 

government  which  exists  under  "  the  flag  of  the  stars," 
is  unworthy  of  the  designation  of  Christian.  Recollect 
that  you  were  born  in  Great  Britain ;  that  the  American 
government  looks  with  coldness  upon  the  powerful  flag 
of  St.  George,  and  is  provoking  to  a  rupture  the  war 
like  people  to  whom  it  belongs,  President  Polk  boldly 
manifesting  a  desire  to  take  possession  of  Oregon,  as  he 
has  already  done  of  Texas.  Now,  then,  come  with  all 
confidence  to  the  Mexican  ranks ;  and  I  guaranty  to 
you,  upon  my  honour,  good  treatment,  and  that  all  your 
expenses  shall  be  defrayed  until  your-  arrival  in  the 
beautiful  capital  of  Mexico. 

Germans,  French,  Poles,  and  individuals  of  other 
nations !  Separate  yourselves  from  the  Yankees,  and  do 
not  contribute  to  defend  a  robbery  and  usurpation  which, 
be  assured,  the  civilized  nation  of  Europe  look  upon 
with  the  utmost  indignation.  Come,  therefore,  and 
array  yourselves  under  the  tri-coloured  flag,  in  the  con 
fidence  that  the  God  of  armies  protects  it,  and  that  it 
will  protect  you  equally  with  the  English. 

PEDRO  DE  AMPUDIA. 

FHANCISCO  R.  MORENO, 

Mjt.  of  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

HEAD  QUARTKRS,  UPON  THE  ROAD  TO  MATAMORAS, 


This  ingenious  attempt  to  seduce  that  part  of  the 
Army  of  Occupation  which  was  composed  of  naturali 
zed  citizens  was,  of  course,  treated  with  the  contempt 
it  deserved.  We.  hear  of  no  more  desertions  after  this. 

On  the  Oth  of  April  a  small  iritrenchment  was  raised 
for  the  reception  of  cannon  expected  from  Point  Isabel. 
The  main  intrenchment,  Fort  Brown,  meantime,  was  in 
progress,  under  the  direction  of  Captain  Mansfield  of  the 


44  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

Engineers.  It  had  six  bastion  fronts,  and  was  capable 
of  accommodating  five  regiments  of  infantry. 

On  the  10th  of  April  Colonel  Cross,  the  deputy  quarter 
master-general,  was  murdered '  by  the  Mexicans  while 
taking  a  ride  near  the  American  camp.  His  body  was 
not  discovered  till  the  2 1st,  arid  it  is  still  somewhat 
doubtful  by  what  particular  party  of  the  enemy  he  met 
his  fate. 

On  the  llth  of  April  General  Ampudia  arrived  at 
Matamoras;  and  on  the  12th  he  sent  a  flag  with  the 
following  communication  to  General  Taylor : 

FOURTH  MILITARY  DIVISION^  ) 
Gene  ral-in-  Chief-  } 

To  explain  to  you  the  many  grounds  for  the  just 
grievances  felt  by  the  Mexican  nation,  caused  by  the 
United  States  government,  would  be  a  loss  of  time  and 
an  insult  to  your  good  sense ;  I  therefore  pass  at  once  to 
such  explanations  as  I  consider  of  absolute  necessity. 

Your  government,  in  an  incredible  manner — you  will 
even  permit  me  to  say  an  extravagant  one,  if  the  usage 
or  general  rules  established  and  received  among  all  civil 
ized  nations  are  regarded — has  not  only  insulted,  but  has 
exasperated  the  Mexican  nation,  bearing  its  conquering 
banner  to  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Bravo  del  Norte  ;  and 
in  this  case,  by  explicit  and  definite  orders  of  my  govern 
ment,  which  neither  can,  will,  nor  should  receive  ne\v 
outrages,  I  require  you  in  all  form,  and  at  latest  in  the 
peremptory  term  of  twenty-four  hours,  to  break  up  your 
camp  and  retire  to  the  other  bank  of  the  Nueces  river, 
while  our  governments  are  regulating  the  pending  ques 
tion  in  relation  to  Texas.  If  you  insist  in  remaining 
upon  the  soil  of  the  department  of  Tamaulipas,  it  will 
clearly  result  that  arms,  and  arms  alone,  must  decide  the 


•  TAYLOR.  1.') 

question;  and  in  that  case  I  advise  you  that  we  accept 
the  war  to  which,  with  so  much  injustice  on  your  part, 
you  provoke  us,  and  that,  on  our  part,  this  war  shall  be 
conducted  conformably  to  the  principles  established  bv 
the  most  civilized  nations;  that  is  to  say,  that  the  law 
of  nations  and  of  war  shall  be  the  guide  of  my  operations  ; 
trusting  that  on  your  part  the  same  will  be  observed. 

With  this  view,  I  tender  you  the  considerations  due  to 
your  person  and  respectable  office. 

God  and  Liberty ! 

HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  MATAMORAS,  2  o'clock,  P.  M., 
April  12,  1846. 

PEDRO  DE  AMPUDIA. 

Sr.  General-in-Chief  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  j 
Don.  Z.  TAYLOR.  ) 

General  Taylor  immediately  replied  to  this  commu 
nication  as  follows  : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION.      J 
Camp  near  Matamoras,  Texas,  April  12.  1846.  j 

SENOR  :  I  have  had  the  honour  to  receive  your  note 
of  this  date,  in  which  you  summon  me  to  withdraw  the 
forces  under  my  command  from  their  present  position, 
and  beyond  the  river  Nueces,  until  the  pending  question 
between  our  governments,  relative  to  the  limits  of  Texas, 
shall  be  settled. 

I  need  hardly  advise  you  that,  charged  as  I  am,  in 
only  a  military  capacity,  with  the  performance  of  spe 
cific  duties,  I  cannot  enter  into  a  discussion  of  the  in 
ternational  question  involved  in  the  advance  of  the 
American  army.  You  will,  however,  permit  me  to  say 
that  the  government  of  the  United  States  has  constantly 
sought  a  settlement,  by  negotiation,  of  the  question  of 
boundary  ;  that  an  envoy  was  despatched  to  Mexico  for 


46 

that  purpose,  and  that  up  to  the  most  recent  dates  said 
envoy  had  not  been  received  by  the  actual  Mexican 
government,  if  indeed  he  has  not  received  his  passports 
and  left  the  republic.  In  the  mean  time,  I  have  been 
ordered  to  occupy  the  country  up  to  the  left  bank  of  the 
Rio  Grande,  until  the  boundary  shall  be  definitively 
settled.  In  carrying  out  these  instructions,  I  have  care 
fully  abstained  from  all  acts  of  hostility,  obeying,  in  this 
regard,  not  only  the  letter  of  my  instructions,  but  the 
plain  dictates  of  justice  and  humanity. 

The  instructions  under  which  I  am  acting  will  not 
permit  me  to  retrograde  from  the  position  I  now  occupy. 
In  view  of  the  relations  between  our  respective  govern 
ments,  and  the  individual  suffering  which  may  result,  I 
regret  the  alternative  which  you  offer ;  but,  at  the  same 
time,  wish  it  understood  that  I  shall  by  no  means  avoid 
such  alternative,  leaving  the  responsibility  with  those 
who  rashly  commence  hostilities.  In  conclusion,  you 
will  permit  me  to  give  you  the  assurance  that  on  my 
part  the  laws  and  customs  of  war  among  civilized 
nations  shall  be  carefully  observed. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant. 

Sr.  Gen.  D.  PEDRO  DE  AMPUDIA. 

Lieutenants  Porter  and  Dobbins,  with  a  party  of  ten 
men,  were  despatched  on  the  17th,  in  pursuit  of  the 
murderers  of  Colonel  Cross.  On  the  afternoon  of  the 
18th,  they  fell  in  with  a  party  of  150  Mexicans,  fired 
upon  them,  put  them  to  flight,  and  took  possession  of 
their  camp  and  horses.  On  their  return  to  camp  they 
were  attacked  by  a  party  of  Mexicans  in  the  night,  and 
Lieutenant  Porter  was  killed. 

On  the  1 9th  of  April,  General  Taylor  intercepted  two 


TAYLOR.  47 

vessels  bound  into  Matamoras  with  supplies  for  the 
Mexican  army,  by  sending  the  U.  S.  brig  Lawrence  and 
the  revenue  cutter  Santa  Anna  in  pursuit  of  them.  In 
consequence  of  this  proceeding,  the  following  communi 
cation  was  addressed  to  General  Taylor  by  General  Am- 
pudia. 

DIVISION  OF  THE  NORTH, 

Second  General-in-Chief. 

From  various  sources  worthy  of  confidence,  I  have 
learned  that  some  vessels  bound  for  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  have  not  been  able  to  effect  an  entrance  into  that 
port  in  consequence  of  your  orders  that  they  should  be 
conducted  to  Brazos  Santiago.  The  cargo  of  one  of 
them  is  composed  in  great  part,  and  of  the  other  entirely, 
of  provisions,  which  the  contractors  charged  with  pro 
viding  for  the  army  under  my  orders  had  procured  to 
fulfil  the  obligations  of  their  contracts.  You  have  taken 
possession  of  these  provisions  by  force,  and  against  the 
will  of  the  proprietors,  one  of  whom  is  vice  consul  of 
her  Catholic  Majesty,  and  the  other  of  her  Britannic 
Majesty  ;  and  whose  rights,  in  place  of  being  religiously 
respected,  as  was  proffered,  and  as  was  to  be  hoped  from 
the  observance  of  the  principles  which  govern  among 
civilized  nations,  have,  on  the  contrary,  been  violated  in 
the  most  extraordinary  manner,  opposed  to  the  guarantee 
and  respect  due  to  private  property. 

Nothing  can  have  authorized  you  in  such  a  course. 
The  commerce  of  nations  is  not  suspended  or  interrupted 
except  in  consequence  of  a  solemn  declaration  of  block 
ade,  communicated  and  established  in  the  form  prescribed 
by  international  law.  Nevertheless,  you  have  infringed 
these  rules  ;  and,  by  an  act  which  can  never  be  viewed 
favourably  to  the  United  States  government,  have  hin- 


48  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

dered  the  entrance  to  a  Mexican  port,  of  vessels  bound 
to  it,  under  the  confidence  that  commerce  would  not  be 
interrupted.  My  duties  do  not  allow  me  to  consent  to 
this  new  species  of  hostility,  and  they  constrain  me  to 
require  of  you,  not  only  that  the  vessels  taken  by  force 
to  Brazos  Santiago  shall  be  at  liberty  to  return  to  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  but  the  restoration  of  all  the  pro 
visions  which,  besides  belonging  to  private  contractors, 
were  destined  for  the  troops  on  this  frontier.  I  consider 
it  useless  to  inculcate  the  justice  of  this  demand,  and 
the  results  which  may  follow  an  unlooked-for  refusal. 

I  have  also  understood  that  two  Mexicans,  carried 
down  in  a  boat  by  the  current  of  the  river  near  one  of 
the  advanced  posts  of  your  camp,  were  detained,  after 
being  fired  upon,  and  that  they  are  still  kept  and  treated 
as  prisoners.  The  individuals  in  question  do  not  belong 
to  the  army,  and  this  circumstance  exempts  them  from 
the  laws  of  war.  I  therefore  hope  that  you  will  place 
them  absolutely  at  liberty,  as  I  cannot  be  persuaded  that 
you  pretend  to  extend  to  persons  not  military  the  con 
sequences  of  an  invasion,  which,  without  employing  this 
means  of  rigour  against  unarmed  citizens,  is  marked  in 
itself  with  the  seal  of  universal  reprobation. 

I  avail  myself  of  this  opportunity  to  assure  you  of  my 
distinguished  consideration. 

God  and  liberty  \-Matamoras,  April  22,  1846. 

PEDRO  DE  AMPUDIA. 

Sr.  Gen.  Don  Z.  TAYLOR. 

General  Taylor's  answer  to  this  letter  is  worthy  of 
attention.  It  is  not  only  a  masterly  piece  of  composi 
tion,  but  a  very  admirable  and  clear  view  of  the  relative 
positions  of  the  parties  up  to  the  moment  of  writing. 


TAYLOR.  49 


HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMY  or  OCCUPATION,  ) 
Camp  near  Matamoras,  Texas,  April  22,  1846.      j 

SIR  :  I  have  had  the  honour  to  receive  your  communi 
cation  of  this  date,  in  which  you  complain  of  certain 
measures  adopted  by  my  orders  to  close  the  mouth  of 
the  Rio  Bravo  against  vessels  bound  to  Matamoras,  and 
in  which  you  also  advert  to  the  case  of  two  Mexicans 
supposed  to  be  detained  as  prisoners  in  this  camp. 

After  all  that  has  passed  since  the  American  army  first 
approached  the  Rio  Bravo,  I  arn  certainly  surprised  that 
you  should  complain  of  a  measure  which  is  no  other 
than  a  natural  result  of  the  state  of  war  so  much  insisted 
upon  by  the  Mexican  authorities  as  actually  existing  at 
this  time.  You  will  excuse  me  for  recalling  a  few  cir 
cumstances  to  show  that  this  state  of  war  has  not  been 
sought  by  the  American  army,  but  has  been  forced  upon 
it,  and  that,  the  exercise  of  the  rights  incident  to  such  a 
state  cannot  be  made  a  subject  of  complaint. 

On  breaking  up  my  camp  at  Corpus  Christi,  and 
moving  forward  with  the  army  under  my  orders  to 
occupy  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Bravo,  it  was  my 
earnest  desire  to  execute  my  instructions  in  a  pacific 
manner  ;  to  observe  the  utmost  regard  for  the  personal 
rights  of  all  citizens  residing  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
river,  and  to  take  care  that  the  religion  and  customs  of 
the  people  should  suffer  no  violation.  With  this  view, 
and  to  quiet  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants,  I  issued 
orders  to  the  army,  enjoining  a  strict  observance  of  the 
rights  and  interests  of  all  Mexicans  residing  on  the  river, 
and  caused  said  orders  to  be  translated  into  Spanish,  and 
circulated  in  the  several  towns  on  the  Bravo.  These 
orders  announced  the  spirit  in  which  we  proposed  to 
occupy  the  country,  and  I  am  proud  to  say  that  up  to 


50  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

this  moment  the  same  spirit  has  controlled  the  operations 
of  the  army.  On  reaching  the  Arroyo  Colorado  I  was 
informed  by  a  Mexican  officer  that  the  order  in  question 
had  been  received  in  Matamoras;  but  was  told  at  the 
same  time  that  if  I  attempted  to  cross  the  river  it  would 
be  regarded  as  a  declaration  of  war.  Again,  on  my 
march  to  Frontone  I  was  met  by  a  deputation  of  the 
civil  authorities  of  Slatamoras,  protesting  against  'my 
occupation  of  a  portion  of  the  department  of  Tamauli- 
pas,  and  declaring  that  if  the  army  was  not  at  once 
withdrawn,  war  would  result.  While  this  communica 
tion  was  in  my  hands,  it  was  discovered  that  the  village 
of  Frontone  had  been  set  on  fire  and  abandoned.  I 
viewed  this  as  a  direct  act  of  war,  and  informed  the  depu 
tation  that  their  communication  would  be  answered  by  me 
when  opposite  Matamoras,  which  was  done  in  respectful 
terms.  On  reaching  the  river  I  despatched  an  officer, 
high  in  rank,  to  convey  to  the  commanding  general  in 
Matamoras  the  expression  of  my  desire  for  amicable 
relations,  and  my  willingness  to  leave  open  to  the  use 
of  the  citizens  of  Matamoras  the  port  of  Brazos  Santiago 
until  the  question  of  boundary  should  be  definitively 
settled.  This  officer  received  for  reply,  from  the  officer 
selected  to  confer  with  him,  that  my  advance  to  the  Rio 
Bravo  was  considered  as  a  veritable  act  of  war,  and  he 
was  absolutely  refused  an  interview  with  the  American 
consul,  in  itself  an  act  incompatible  with  a  state  of 
peace. 

Notwithstanding  these  repeated  assurances  on  the  part 
of  the  Mexican  authorities,  and  notwithstanding  the  most 
obviously  hostile  preparations  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
river,  accompanied  by  a  rigid  non-intercourse,  I  carefully 
abstained  from  any  act  of  hostility — determined  that  the 
onus  of  producing  an  actual  state  of  hostilities  should 


TAYLOR.  51 

not  rest  with  me.  Our  relations  remained  in  this  state 
until  I  had  the  honour  to  receive  your  note  of  the  12th 
instant,  in  which  you  denounce  war  as  the  alternative  of 
my  remaining  in  this  position.  As  I  could  not,  under 
my  instructions,  recede  from  my  position,  I  accepted  the 
alternative  you  offered  me,  and  made  all  my  dispositions 
to  meet  it  suitably.  But,  still  willing  to  adopt  milder 
measures  before  proceeding  to  others,  I  contented  myself 
in  the  first  instance  with  ordering  a  blockade  of  the 
mouth  of  the  Rio  Bravo  by  the  naval  forces  under  my 
orders — a  proceeding  perfectly  consonant  with  the  state 
of  war  so  often  declared  to  exist,  and  which  you  ac 
knowledge  in  your  note  of  the  16th  instant,  relative  to 
the  late  Col.  Cross.  If  this  measure  seem  oppressive,  I 
wish  it  borne  in  mind  that  it  has  been  forced  upon  me 
by  the  course  you  have  seen  fit  to  adopt.  I  have  report 
ed  this  blockade  to  my  government,  and  shall  not  re 
move  it  until  I  receive  instructions  to  that  effect,  unless 
indeed  you  desire  an  armistice  pending  the  final  settle 
ment  of  the  question  between  the  governments,  or  until 
war  shall  be  formally  declared  by  either,  in  which  case 
I  shall  cheerfully  open  the  river.  In  regard  to  the  con 
sequences  you  mention  as  resulting  from  a  refusal  to  re 
move  the  blockade,  I  beg  you  to  understand  that  I  am 
prepared  for  them,  be  they  what  they  may. 

In  regard  to  the  particular  vessels  referred  to  in  your 
communication,  I  have  the  honour  to  advise  you  that,  in 
pursuance  of  my  orders,  two  American  schooners,  bound 
for  Matamoras,  were  warned  off  on  the  17th  instant, 
when  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  put  to  sea,  return 
ing  probably  to  New  Orleans.  They  were  not  seized, 
or  their  cargoes  disturbed  in  any  way,  nor  have  they 
been  in  the  harbour  of  Brazos  Santiago  to  my  knowledge. 
A.  Mexican  schooner,  understood  to  be  the  "  Juniata," 


52  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

was  in  or  off  that  harbour  when  my  instructions  to  block 
the  river  were  issued,  but  was  driven  to  sea  in  a  gale,  since 
which  time  I  have  had  no  report  concerning  her.  Since 
the  receipt  of  your  communication,  I  have  learned  that 
two  persons,  sent  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  to  procure 
information  respecting  this  vessel,  proceeded  thence  to 
Brazos  Santiago,  when  they  were  taken  up  and  detained 
by  'the  officer  in  command,  until  my  orders  could  be 
received.  I  shall  order  their  immediate  release.  A  letter 
from  one  of  them  to  the  Spanish  vice-consul  is  respect 
fully  transmitted  herewith. 

In  relation  to  the  Mexicans  said  to  have  drifted  down 
the  river  in  a  boat,  and  to  be  prisoners  at  this  time  in  my 
camp,  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  no  such 
persons  have  been  taken  prisoners  or  are  now  detained 
by  my  authority.  The  boat  in  question  was  carried 
down  empty  by  the  current  of  the  river,  and  drifted 
ashore  near  one  of  our  pickets  and  was  secured  by  the 
guard.  Some  time  afterwards  an  attempt  was  made  to 
recover  the  boat  under  the  cover  of  the  darkness ;  the 
individuals  concerned  were  hailed  by  the  guard,  and, 
failing  to  answer,  were  fired  upon  as  a  matter  of  course. 
What  became  of  them  is  not  known,  as  no  trace  of  them 
could  be  discovered  on  the  following  morning.  The 
officer  of  the  Mexican  guard  directly  opposite  was 
informed  next  day  that  the  boat  would  be  returned  on 
proper  application  to  me,  and  I  have  now  only  to  repeat 
that  assurance. 

In  conclusion,  I  take  leave  to  state  that  I  consider  the 
tone  of  your  communication  highly  exceptionable,  where 
you  stigmatize  the  movement  of  the  army  under  my 
orders  as  "  marked  with  the  seal  of  universal  reproba 
tion."  You  must  be  aware  that  such  language  is  not 
respectful  in  itself,  either  to  me  or  my  government ;  and 


TAYLOK.  53 

while  I  observe  in  my  own  correspondence  the  courtesy 
due  to  your  high  position,  and  to  the  magnitude  of  the 
interests  with  which  we  are  respectively  charged,  I  shall 
expect  the  same  in  return. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 

Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  ./?.,  Commanding. 
Sr.  Gen.  D.  PEDRO  DE  AMPUDIA,  Commanding  in  Matamoras. 

The  system  of  seducing  American  soldiers  from  their 
allegiance  was  again  resorted  to  by  General  Arista,  who 
sent  forth  the  following  paper  on  the  20th  of  April : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  MATAMORAS,  April  20,  1846. 
SOLDIERS! — You  have  enlisted  in  time  of  peace  to 
serve  in  that  army  for  a  specific  term ;  but  your  obliga 
tion  never  implied  that  you  were  bound  to  violate  the 
laws  of  God,  and  the  most  sacred  rights  of  friends ! 
The  United  States  government,  contrary  to  the  wishes 
of  a  majority  of  all  honest  and  honourable  Americans, 
has  ordered  you  to  take  forcible  possession  of  the  terri 
tory  of  a  friendly  neighbour,  who  has  never  given  her 
consent  to  such  occupation.  In  other  words,  while  the 
treaty  of  peace  and  commerce  between  Mexico  and  the 
United  States  is  in  full  force,  the  United  States,  pre 
suming  on  her  strength  and  prosperity,  and  on  our  sup 
posed  imbecility  and  cowardice,  attempts  to  make  you 
the  blind  instruments  of  her  unholy  and  mad  ambition, 
and  force  you  to  appear  as  the  hateful  robbers  of  our 
dear  homes,  and  the  unprovoked  violators  of  our  dearest 
feelings  as  men  and  patriots.  Such  villany  and  outrage, 
I  know,  is  perfectly  repugnant  to  the  noble  sentiments 
of  anv  gentleman,  and  it  is  base  and  foul  to  rush  you 


54  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

on  to  certain  death,  in  order  to  aggrandize  a  few  lawless 
individuals,  in  defiance  of  the  laws  of  God  and  man! 

It  is  to  no  purpose  if  they  tell  you,  that  the  law  for  the 
annexation  of  Texas  justifies  your  occupation  of  the  Rio 
Bravo  del  Norte  ;  for  by  this  act  they  rob  us  of  a  great 
part  of  Tamaulipas,  Coahuila,  Chihuahua,  and  New 
Mexico  ;  and  it  is  barbarous  to  send  a  handful  of  men 
on  such  an  errand  against  a  powerful  and  warlike  nation. 
Besides,  the  most  of  you  are  Europeans,  and  we  are  the 
declared  friends  of  a  majority  of  the  nations  of  Europe. 
The  North  Americans  are  ambitious,  overbearing,  and 
insolent  as  a  nation,  and  they  will  only  make  use  of  you 
as  vile  tools  to  carry  out  their  abominable  plans  of  pil 
lage  and  rapine. 

I  warn  you  in  the  name  of  justice,  honour,  and  your 
own  interests  and  self-respect,  to  abandon  their  despe 
rate  and  unholy  cause,  and  become  peaceful  Mexican 
citizens.  I  guaranty  you,  in  such  case,  a  half  section 
of  land,  or  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  to  settle 
upon,  gratis.  Be  wise,  then,  and  just,  and  honourable, 
and  take  no  part  in  murdering  us  who  have  no  unkind 
feelings  for  you.  Lands  shall  be  given  to  officers, 
sergeants,  and  corporals,  according  to  rank,  privates 
receiving  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  as  stated. 

If  in  time  of  action  you  wish  to  espouse  our  cause, 
throw  away  your  arms  and  run  to  us,  and  we  will  em 
brace  you  as  true  friends  and  Christians.  It  is  not 
decent  nor  prudent  to  say  more.  But  should  any  of 
you  render  important  service  to  Mexico,  you  shall  be 
accordingly  considered  and  preferred. 

M.  ARISTA, 
Commanderdn-  Chief  of  the  Mexican  Army. 


TAYLOR. 


Point  Isabel  had  b.ru  made  the  depot,  of  military  stores 
for  the  Army  of  Occupation.  The  Mexicans  had  already 
crossed  the  Rio  Grande,  and  intercepted  the  communi 
cation  between  this  post  and  Fort  Brown,  and  General 
Taylor  was  engaged  in  making  preparations  for  re-open 
ing  the  communication  between  the  two  posts.  Teams 
despatched  from  Fort  Isabel  to  Fort  Brown  had  been 
compelled  to  return,  and  Captain  Walker,  of  the  Texan 
Rangers,  who  went  out  on  the  28th  to  reconnoitre,  was 
driven  back  to  Point  Isabel,  with  the  loss  of  some  men 
of  his  party.  He  reported  having  encountered  a  force 
.of  the  enemy,  which  he  estimated  at  1500.  Notwith 
standing  this,  he  started  on  the  29th  with  a  message  from 
Major  Munroe  to  General  Taylor,  and  after  a  series  of 
"hair-breadth  'scapes"  succeeded  in  delivering  it. 

After  receiving  this  message,  General  Taylor  (May 
1st,  1846)  took  up  his  line  of  march  for  Point  Isabel, 
with  the  main  body  of  the  army,  leaving  a  regiment  of 
infantry  and  two  companies  of  artillery  at  Fort  Brown, 
under  the  command  of  Major  Brown.  The  Mexicans, 
who  had  very  prudently  refrained  from  attacking  the 
army  while  General  Taylor  was  present,  commenced,  on 
the  3d  of  May,  a  furious  fire  on  the  small  force  left  in 
Fort  Brown,  from  a  battery  of  seven  guns.  The  fire  was 
instantly  returned  with  spirit,  and  the  battery  was  silenced 
in  twenty  minutes  after  the  Americans  commenced  firing1. 
Another  attack  was  commenced  with  shot  and  shells 
from  another  battery,  killing  a  sergeant,  but  effecting  no 
other  damage. 

The  firing  at  Fort.  Brown  being  heard  by  General 
Taylor,  he  despatched  Captains  May  and  Walker  to  ob 
tain  intelligence  from  the  fort ;  and  by  this  means  re 
ceived  intelligence  that  Major  Brown  was  in  a  condition 
to  maintain  his  post. 
4 


56  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  May,  Fort  Brown  was 
assailed  by  a  heavy  force  of  the  enemy  on  the  rear, 
where  the  Mexicans  had  placed  a  strong  battery  during 
the  preceding  night.  At  the  same  time  the  fire  was  re 
newed  from  Matamoras,  and  the  gallant  fellows  in  the 
intrenchment  were  thus  exposed  to  a  galling  cross  fire, 
with  the  prospect  of  a  speedy  assault.  Nothing  daunt 
ed,  however,  they  returned  the  fire  on  both  sides,  main 
taining  the  unequal  contest  with  perfect  coolness,  until 
the  firing  of  the  enemy  ceased.  On  the  evening  of  this 
day  Major  Brown,  in  obedience  to  orders  which  he  had 
received  from  General  Taylor,  fired  his  eighteen-pounders 
at  stated  intervals,  as  a  signal  that  he  was  surrounded. 
On  the  forenoon  of  the  6th,  Major  Brown,  the  gallant 
commander  of  the  fort,  was  mortally  wounded  by  a 
shell  from  one  of  the  Mexican  batteries.  He  was  suc 
ceeded  in  the  command  by  Captain  Hawkins,  who,  at 
half  past  four  o'clock,  was  summoned  to  surrender  the 
fort,  and,  of  course,  refused.  The  firing  was  then  re 
newed  and  continued  for  the  rest  of  the  day.  At  day 
light  of  the  7th  the  firing  was  renewed  ;  but  soon  after 
suddenly  ceased.  It  was  again  renewed  and  continued 
for  six  hours.  The  firing  at  Palo  Alto,  where  General 
Taylor  was  engaged  with  the  Mexicans,  was  then  heard 
at  Fort  Brown,  with  what  mixed  emotions  the  reader 
may  conceive.  The  Americans  welcomed  the  sound 
with  a  tremendous  shout.  They  knew  that  for  Taylor 
to  fight  was  to  conquer.  The  enemy  recommenced 
their  bombardment  with  redoubled  energy;  but  the  con 
tinuous  and  exulting  shouts  of  the  Americans  finally 
silenced  the  bombardment.  At  sunset  a  Mexican  de 
serter  brought  the  news  of  the  victory  of  Palo  Alto ; 
and  the  wearied  garrison  felt  that  their  labours  and 
dangers  were  nearly  closed. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la  Palma — Captain  May's 
brilliant  charge — Retreat  of  the  Mexicans. 

WHILE  the  events  we  have  just  related  were  trans 
piring,  the  situation  of  the  "  Army  of  Occupation"  was 
now  one  of  extreme  difficulty  and  danger.  Separated 
into  two  portions,  one  at  Fort  Brown  arid  the  other  at 
Point  Isabel,  with  an  immensely  superior  force  interposed 
between  them,  there  was  every  human  probability  that 
one  or  both  portions  of  the  army  would  be  entirely  cut 
off.  Such  was  the  apprehension  justly  entertained 
throughout  the  United  States  when  their  situation  became 
known.  But  their  leader  was  General  Taylor. 

He  had  determined  to  march  from  Point  Isabel  to 
Fort  Brown,  and  expressed  his  determination  to  fight 
any  force  of  the  enemy  that  might  oppose  his  progress, 
whatever  the  magnitude  of  that  force  might  be.  The 
following  letter  from  an  eye-witness  of  his  next  opera 
tions  gives  a  clear  view  of  the  battles  of  the  8th  and  9th 
of  May,  and  the  succeeding  events. 

"PoiNT  ISABEL,  May  12th,  1846. 

«  By  the  last  departure  I  wrote  to  you  briefly  of  the 
operations  of  the  army  up  to  that  time,  of  the  bombard 
ment  of  the  fort  opposite  Matamoras,  and  the  movement 
of  General  Taylor  with  the  main  body  to  this  place,  for 
the  purpose  of  strengthening1  its  defences.  Having 


58  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

effected  this,  he  marched,  without  waiting  for  reinforce 
ments,  on  the  evening  of  the  7th ;  and  on  the  8th,  at  two 
o'clock,  found  the  enemy  in  position,  in  front  of  a 
chapparal,  which  lies  opposite  to  the  timber  of  a  stream 
called  Palo  Alto. 

The  train  was  closed  up,  the  troops  rilled  their  can 
teens,  and  General  Taylor  promptly  formed  his  line  of 
battery  as  follows : — On  the  right  was  Ringgold's  bat 
tery,  5th  and  3d  infantry ;  then  two  eighteen-pounders  ; 
then  the  artillery  battalion.  The  left  was  composed  of 
the  4th  and  8th  infantry,  and  Duncan's  battery.  A 
daring  reconnoissance  by  Lieut.  J.  E.  Blake,  showed  the 
enemy's  line  to  be  of  nearly  twice  the  strength  of  ours, 
with  heavy  reserves  in  the  chapparal.  The  Mexicans 
opened  the  action  with  their  artillery,  the  range  of  which 
was  hardly  great  enough  to  reach  our  line,  which  was 
moving  slowly  forward,  and  some  got  into  the  thickest 
of  their  shot  and  halted.  The  fire  was  returned  from  all 
our  batteries,  and  I  venture  to  say  that  no  field  ever  dis 
played  such  skill,  or  rapidity  of  fire  and  evolution. 

The  first  and  only  important  movement  attempted  by 
the  enemy,  was  a  detachment  of  their  cavalry  to  make  a 
detour  around  a  clump  of  chapparal  on  our  right,  and 
attack  the  train.  Captain  Walker,  of  the  Texas  Rangers, 
promptly  reported  this,  and  the  5th  infantry  was  detached 
to  meet  it,  which  it  did  handsomely,  receiving  the  lancers 
in  square,  and  driving  them  by  a  well  delivered  volley. 
The  cavalry  then  pushed  on  again  for  the  train,  and 
found  the  3d  infantry  advancing  in  column  of  divisions 
upon  them.  They  then  retired,  and  as  they  repassed  the 
5th,  they  received  a  fire  from  Lieutenant  Ridgely's  two 
pieces,  which  had  arrived  at  the  nick  of  time.  Two 
field-pieces,  which  were  following  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
were  also  driven  back  with  them. 


TAYLOR.  Oy 

Meanwhile  the  enemy's  left '  was  riddled  by  the 
eighteen-pounders,  \vhich  slowly  advanced  up  the  road 
— Duncan's  battery  on  the  left,  neglecting  the  enemy's 
guns,  threw  their  fire  into  the  Mexican  infantry,  and 
swept  whole  ranks.  The  8th  infantry  on  the  left  suffered 
severely  from  the  enemy's  fire.  The  grass  was  set  on 
fire  at  the  end  of  an  hour's  cannonading,  and  obscured 
the  enemy's  position  completely,  and  an  interval  of  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour  occurred.  During  this  period  our 
right,  now  resting  on  the  eighteen-pounders,  advanced 
along  the  wood,  to  the  point  originally  occupied  by  the 
Mexican  left,  and  when  the  smoke  had  cleared  away 
sufficiently  to  show  the  enemy,  the  fire  was  resumed  with 
increased  rapidity  and  execution.  Duncan  divided  his 
battery  on  the  left,  giving  a  section  to  Lieutenant  Roland, 
to  operate  in  front,  and  with  the  other  he  advanced  beyond 
the  burning  grass,  (which  was  three  feet  high,  and  the 
flames  rolled  ten  feet  in  the  strong  breeze,)  and  seized 
the  prolongation  of  the  enemy's  right,  enfilading  that  flank 
completely.  Night  found  the  two  armies  in  this  position. 

On  the  9th,  the  general  packed  the  heavy  train,  col 
lected  the  enemy's  wounded  in  hospital,  buried  their 
dead,  arranged  our  own  wounded  (among  whom  we 
have  to  regret  the  sudden  death  of  Major  Ringgold,  and 
probably  Captain  Page),  and  moved  on  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy  on  the  Matamoras  road.  They  had  taken  post 
in  the  chapparal  the  second  time,  occupying  the  bed  of  a 
stream  called  Resaca  de  la  Palrna,  with  their  artillery  on 
the  road  at  the  crossing.  I  have  no  time  for  details  of 
this  affair.  The  general  brought  up  his  troops  by  bat 
talions,  and  posted  them,  with  brief  orders  to  find  the 
enemy  with  the  bayonet,  and  placed  the  artillery  where 
they  could  act  in  the  road. 

The  dragoons  were  held  in  reserve,  and  as  soon  as 


TAYLOK  AND  HIS  GE.NilHALSS. 


the  advance  of  our  line  had  uncovered  the  Mexican  bat 
teries,  General  Taylor  told  Captain  May  that  his  time 
had  come :  «  Here's  the  enemy's  battery,  sir,  take  it 
nolens  volens."  May  dashed  upon  it  with  his  squadron, 
and  lost  one -third  of  it ;  but  he  cleared  the  battery  arid 
captured  its  commander,  General  Vega,  in  the  act  of 
raising  a  port-fire,  to  fire  a  piece  himself.  May  took  his 
sword,  and  brought  the  general  off.  The  enemy  re- 
manned  the  guns,  and  lost  them  a  second  time  to  the 
5th  infantry. 

Captain  Barbour,  of  the  2d  infantry,  with  his  single 
company,  and  a  few  men  from  the  5th,  who  joined  him 
in  the  chapparal;  threw  his  back  against  a  clump  of 
bushes,  and  received  and  gallantly  repelled  a  charge  of 
cavalry.  Captain  Duncan,  with  his  battery,  did  terrible 
execution.  He  is  a  most  promising  officer.  Lieutenant 
Ridgely  was  also  among  the  foremost.  In  truth,  it  was 
a  series  of  brilliant  skirmishes  and  heavy  shocks,  in 
which  fifteen  hundred  fighting  men  met  six  thousand 
hand  to  hand — overwhelmed  them  with  the  precision  of 
their  volleys,  and  the  steady  coolness  of  the  bayonet,  and 
drove  them  from  the  field  with  the  loss  of  their  artillery, 
baggage,  pack-mules,  fixed  ammunition,  and  near  2000 
stand  of  muskets. 

Fort  Brown,  meantime,  had  been  summoned,  with  true 
Mexican  duplicity,  and  told  that  Taylor  was  flying. 
The  Matamoras  newspapers  and  official  bulletins  called 
him  a  cowardly  tailor.  In  answer  to  the  summons,  the 
officers  plunged  their  swords  into  the  parapet,  and  re 
plied  "  to  the  hilt."  Up  to  the  evening  of  the  9th,  1500 
shells  and  3000  shot  had  been  thrown,  and  the  only 
loss  was  that  of  the  brave  commander,  Major  Brown, 
and  one  sergeant  and  one  private  killed,  and  eleven 
wounded. 


TAYLOJK. 


The  general  returns  to  the  army  to-night,  and  will 
cross  the  river  to-morrow  or  next  day.  The  fort  will  be 
increased  in  guns,  and  especially  provided  with  mortars/ 
which  will  bring  the  town  to  terms  at  once.  The  navy 
will  co-operate  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  steamboats 
begin  to  carry  supplies  by  that  route. 

General  Taylor  has  just  given  General  Vega  a  letter 
to  General  Gaines,  and  a  letter  of  credit  on  his  factor. 
The  officers  here  and  in  the  main  body  vied  with  their 
commander  in  delicate  attentions  to  a  brave  and  accom 
plished  enemy,  who  won  their  admiration  on  the  field, 
and  was  taken  like  a  soldier,  in  full  harness,  and  fighting 
gallantly  to  the  last.  Our  loss  about  thirty  killed,  and 
one  hundred  and  forty  wounded. 

Mexican  loss  at  Palo  Alto,  set  down  by  themselves  at 
450  ;  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  2000  missing.  Since  the 
battle,  our  dragoons  have  been  exchanged  grade  for 
grade;  and  the  Mexican  wounded  sent  over  to  Mata- 
moras.  By  the  next  arrival  you  will  hear  of  the  fall  of 
the  town,  and  probably  an  offer  from  them  to  receive 
Mr.  Slidell  in  any  capacity. 

It  ought  to  be  mentioned  that  some  of  our  regiments 
are  not  full,  and  two  of  them  only  have  about  300. 
Many  instances  have  occurred,  of  men  handing  their 
canteens  to  the  wounded  Mexicans,  and  turning  from 
them  to  fire  upon  others.  There  was  not  a  single 
occurrence  of  cruelty  towards  the  enemy.  The  morale 
of  the  army  is  at  its  highest  —  it  can  now  accomplish 
anything,  and  they  would  die  for  a  commander  who  does 
not  ask  them  to  go  where  he  is  not  willing  to  lead,  and 
in  whose  judgment  they  fully  confide." 

The  following  are  General  Taylor's  concise  official 
despatches,  announcing  these  two  battles. 


62  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

••••/;«     Oy    z.iiiii-j"f;.     :&i*$U:S£i    j>ji>I" 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION,  } 
»  Camp  a*  Pato  Jfto,  Texas,  May  9,  1846.  j 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  report  that  I  was  met  near 
this  place  yesterday,  on  my  march  from  Point  Isabel,  by 
the  Mexican  forces,  and  after  an  action  of  about  five  hours, 
dislodged  them  from  their  position  and  encamped  upon 
the  field.  Our  artillery,  consisting  of  two  eighteen- 
pounders  and  two  light  batteries,  was  the  arm  chiefly 
engaged,  and  to  the  excellent  mariner  in  which  it  was 
manoeuvred  and  served,  is  our  success  mainly  due. 

The  strength 'of  the  enemy  is  believed  to  have  been 
about  6000  men,  with  seven  pieces  of  artillery, 
and  800  cavalry.  His  los^  is  probably  at  least 
one  hundred  killed.  Our  strength  did  not  exceed,  all 
told,  twenty-three  hundred,  while  our  loss  was  compara 
tively  trifling — four  men  killed,  three  officers  and  thirty- 
seven  men  wounded,  several  of  the  latter  mortally.  I 
regret  to  say  that  Major  Ringgold,  2d  artillery,  and 
Captain  Page,  4th  infantry,  are  severely  wounded.  Lieu 
tenant  Laither,  2d  artillery,  slightly  so. 

The  enemy  has  fallen  back,  and  it  is  believed  has  re- 
passed  the  river.  I  have  advanced  parties  now  thrown 
forward  in  his  direction,  and  shall  move  the  main  body 
immediately. 

In  the  haste  of  this  report,  I  can  only  say  that  the 
officers  and  men  behaved  in  the  most  admirable  manner 
throughout  the  action.  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of 
making  a  more  detailed  report  when  those  of  the  different 
commanders  shall  be  received. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brigadier-General  U.  S.  ./?.,  Commanding. 

The  ADJUTANT-GF.NERAL,  II.  S.  Army,  ^ 
Washington,  !>•  G. 


TAYLOR.  63 

Ht.AL)-Q.UAHT£HS    AKMV    OF    OCCUPATION, 

Camp  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  3  miles  from 
Matamoras,  10  o'c/ocfr,  P.  M..  May  9,  1846. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  report  that  I  marched  with 
the  main  body  of  the  army  at  two  o'clock  to-day,  having 
previously  thrown  forward  a  body  of  light  infantry  into 
the  forest  which  covers  the  Matamoras  road.  When 
near  the  spot  where  I  am  now  encamped,  my  advance 
discovered  that  a  ravine  crossing  the  road  had  been 
occupied  by  the  enemy  with  artillery.  I  immediately 
ordered  a  battery  of  field  artillery  to  sweep  the  position, 
flanking  and  sustaining  it  by  the  3d,  4th,  and  5th  regi 
ments,  deployed  as  skirmishes  to  the  right  and  left.  A 
heavy  fire  of  artillery  and  of  musketry  was  kept  up  for 
some  time,  until  finally  the  enemy's  batteries  were  carried 
in  succession  by  a  squadron  of  dragoons  and  the  regi 
ments  of  infantry  that  were  on  the  ground.  He  was 
soon  driven  from  his  position,  and  pursued  by  a  squadron 
of  dragoons,  battalion  of  artillery,  3d  infantry,  and  a 
light  battery,  to  the  river.  Our  victory  has  been  com 
plete.  Eight  pieces  of  artillery,  with  a  great  quantity 
of  ammunition,  three  standards,  and  some  one  hundred 
prisoners  have  been  taken ;  among  the  latter,  General 
Lrd  Vega,  and  several  other  officers.  One  general  is 
understood  to  have  been  killed.  The  enemy  has  re- 
ernssed  the  river,  and  T  am  sure  will  not,  again  molest  us 
on  this  bank. 

'Hie  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  has  been  most  severe. 
Our  own  has  been  very  heavy,  and  I  deeply  regret  to 
report  that  Lieutenant  Inge,  2d  dragoons,  Lieutenant 
Cochrane,  4th  infantry,  and  Lieutenant  Chadbourne,  8tli 
infantry,  were  killed  on  the  field.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Payne,  4th  artillery,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mclntosh,  Lieu- 
Dobbins,  3d  infantry  ;  Captain  Hooe  and  Lieu- 


64  TAYLOK  AND  HIS  GENEBALS. 

tenant  Fowler,  5th  infantry;  and  Captain  Montgomery, 
Lieutenants  Gates,  Selden,  McClay,  Burbank,  and 
Jordan,  8th  infantry,  were  wounded.  The  extent  of 
cur  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  is  not  yet  ascertained, 
and  is  reserved  for  a  more  detailed  report. 

The  affair  of  to-day  may  be  regarded  as  a  proper 
supplement  to  the  cannonade  of  yesterday  ;  and  the  two 
taken  together,  exhibit  the  coolness  and  gallantry  of 
our  officers  and  men  in  the  most  favourable  light.  All 
have  done  their  duty,  and  done  it  nobly.  It  will  be  my 
pride,  in  a  more  circumstantial  report  of  both  actions,  to 
dwell  upon  particular  instances  of  individual  distinction. 

It  affords  me  peculiar  pleasure  to  report  that  the  field 
work  opposite  Matamoras  has  sustained  itself  handsomely 
during  a  cannonade  and  bombardment  of  160  hours. 
But  the  pleasure  is  alloyed  with  profound  regret  at  the 
loss  of  its  heroic  and  indomitable  commander,  Major 
Brown,  who  died  to-day  from  the  effect  of  a  shell.  His 
loss  would  be  a  severe  one  to  the  service  at  any  time, 
but  to  the  army  under  my  orders,  it  is  indeed  irreparable. 
One  officer  and  one  non-commissioned  officer  killed,  and 
ten  men  wounded,  comprise  all  the  casualties  incident 
to  this  severe  bombardment. 

I  inadvertently  omitted  to  mention  the  capture 
of  a  large  number  of  pack-mules  left  in  the  Mexican 
camp.  I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 

Brevet  Brigadier-General  U.  S.  A.  Commanding 
The  ADJUTANT-GENERAL  of  the  Army,  ) 
Washington.  D.  C.      \ 

The  brilliant  charge  of  Captain  May  at  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  is  thus  described  by  Sergeant  Milton,  of  his 
corps : 


TAYLOR.  65 

•*  At  Palo  Alto,"  says  he,  "  I  took  ray  rank  in  the 
troop  as  second  sergeant,  and  while  upon  the  field  my 
horse  was  wounded  in  the  jaw  by  a  grape-shot,  which 
disabled  him  for  service.  While  he  was  plunging  in 
agony  I  dismounted,  and  the  quick  eye  of  Captain  May 
observed  me  as  I  alighted  from  my  horse.  He  inquired 
if  I  was  hurt.  I  answered  no — that  my  horse  was  the 
sufferer.  <  I  am  glad  it  is  not  yourself,'  replied  he ; 
<  there  is  another,'  (pointing  at  the  same  time  to  a  steed 
without  a  rider,  which  was  standing  with  dilated  eye 
gazing  at  the  strife,)  « mount  him.'  I  approached  the 
horse,  and  he  stood  still  until  I  put  my  hand  upon  the 
rein  and  patted  his  neck,  when  he  rubbed  his  head 
alongside  of  me  as  if  pleased  that  some  human  being 
was  about  to  become  his  companion  i:i  the  affray.  He 
was  a  noble  bay,  which  had,  with  a  number  of  others, 
been  purchased  for  the  troop  in  St.  Louis.  I  bestrode 
him,  and  we  passed  through  the  first  day  unharmed. 

"  On  the  second  day,  at  Resaca  de  la  Pa)ma,  our 
troop  stood  anxiously  waiting  for  the  signal  to  be  given, 
and  never  had  I  looked  upon  men  upon  whose  counte 
nances  were  more  clearly  expressed  a  fixed  determina 
tion  to  win.  The  lips  of  some  were  pale  with  excite 
ment,  and  their  eyes  wore  that  fixed  expression  which 
betokens  mischief;  others  with  shut  teeth  would  quietly 
laugh  and  catch  a  tighter  grip  of  the  rein,  or  seat  them 
selves  with  care  and  firmness  in  the  saddle,  while  quiet 
words  of  confidence  and  encouragement  were,  passed 
from  each  to  his  neighbour.  All  at  once  Captain  May 
rode  to  the  front  of  his  troop — every  rein  and  sabre  was 
tightly  grasped.  Raising  himself  and  pointing  at  the 
battery,  he  shouted,  «  M.en,  follow  /'  There  was  now  a 
clattering  of  hoofs  and  a  rattling  of  sabre  sheaths — the 
fire  of  the  enemy's  guns  was  partly  drawn  by  Lieu- 


66  TAYLOR  AND  HiS  GENEKALS. 

tenant  Ridgely,  and  the  next  moment  we  were  sweeping 
like  the  wind  up  the  ravine.  I  was  in  a  squad  of  about 
nine  men,  who  were  separated  by  a  shower  of  grape 
from  the  battery,  and  wre  were  in  advance,  May  leading. 
He  turned  his  horse  opposite  the  breast-work,  in  front 
of  the  guns,  and  with  another  shout  <  to  follow,'  leaped 
over  them.  Several  of  the  horses  did  follow,  but  mine, 
being  new  and  not  well  trained,  refused  ;  twro  others 
balked,  and  their  riders  started  down  the  ravine  to  turn 
the  breast- work  where  the  rest  of  the  troop  had  entered. 
I  made  another  attempt  to  clear  the  guns  with  my  horse, 
turning  him  around — feeling  all  the  time  secure  at 
thinking  the  guns  discharged — I  put  his  head  towards 
them  and  gave  him  spur,  but  he  again  balked ;  so, 
turning  his  head  down  the  ravine,  I  too  started  to  ride 
round  the  breast-work. 

"  As  I  came  down  a  lancer  dashed  at  me  with  lance 
in  rest.  With  my  sabre  I  parried  his  thrust,  only  receiv 
ing  a  slight  flesh  wound  from  its  point  in. the  arm,  which 
felt  at  the  time  like  the  prick  of  a  pin.  The  lancer 
turned  and  fled  ;  at  that  moment  a  ball  passed  through 
my  horse  on  the  left  side  and  shattered  my  right  side. 
The  shot  killed  the  horse  instantly,  ancl  he  fell  upon  my 
left  leg,  fastening  me  by  his  weight  to  the  earth.  There 
I  lay,  right  in  the  midst  of  the  action,  where  carnage 
was  riding  riot,  and  every  moment  the  shot,  from  our 
own  and  the  Mexican  guns,  tearing  up  the  earth  around 
me.  I  tried  to  raise  my  horse  so  as  to  extricate  my  leg, 
but  I  had  already  grown  so  weak  with  my  wound  that  I 
was  unable,  and,  from  the  mere  attempt,  I  fell  back 
exhausted.  To  add  to  my  horror  a  horse,  who  was 
careering  about,  riderless,  within  a  few  yards  of  me, 
received  a  wound,  and  he  commenced  struggling  and 
rearing  with  pain.  Two  or  three  times  he  came  near 


TAYLOR. 


67 


falling  on  me,  but  at  length,  with  a  scream  of  agony  and 
a  bound,  he  fell  dead — his  body  touching  my  own  fallen 
steed.  What  I  had  been  in  momentary  dread  of,  now 
occurred — my  wounded  limb,  which  was  lying  across 
the  horse,  received  another  ball  in  the  ankle. 

"I  now  felt  disposed  to  give  up;  and,  exhausted 
through  pain  and  excitement,  a  film  gathered  over  my 
eyes,  which  I  thought  was  the  precursor  of  dissolution. 
From  this  hopeless  state  I  was  aroused  by  a  wounded 
Mexican,  calling  out  to  me,  <  Bueno  Americano ,'  and 
turning  my  eyes  towards  the  spot,  I  saw  that  he  war 
holding  a  certificate  and  calling  to  me.  The  tide  of 
action  now  rolled  away  from  me,  and  hope  again  sprung 
up.  The  Mexican  uniforms  began  to  disappear  from 
the  chapparal,  and  squadrons  of  our  troops  passed  in 
sight,  apparently  in  pursuit.  While  I  was  thus  nursing 
the  prospect  of  escape,  I  beheld,  not  far  from  me,  a 
villanous-looking  ranchero,  armed  with  an  American 
sergeant's  short  sword,  despatching  a  wounded  American 
soldier,  whose  body  he  robbed — the  next  he  came  to 
was  a  Mexican,  whom  he  served,  the  same  way,  and 
thus  I  looked  on  while  he  murderously  slew  four.  I 
drew  an  undischarged  pistol  from  my  holsters,  and,  laying 
myself  along  my  horse's  neck,  watched  him,  expecting 
to  be  the  next  victim  ;  but  something  frightened  him 
from  his  vulture-like  business,  and  he  fled  in  another 
direction.  I  need  not  say  that  had  he  visited  me  [ 
should  have  taken  one  more  shot  at  the  enemy,  and 
would  have  died  content  had  I  succeeded  in  making 
such  an  assassin  bite  the  dust.  Two  hours  after,  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  shaking  some  of  my  comrades  by  the 
hand,  who  were  picking  up  the  wounded.  They  lifted 
my  Mexican  friend,  too,  and  I  am  pleased  to  say  he,  as 


68  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

well  as  myself,  live  to  fight  over  again  the  sanguine  fray 
of  Resaca  de  la  Palma" 


The  following  is  the  Mexican  general's  account  of  the 
battle  of  Palo  Alto.  It  is  a  very  amusing  specimen  of 
Mexican  rhetoric,  which  has  been  so  frequently  called 
into  requisition  since  the  commencement  of  the  present 
war,  for  the  purpose  of  converting  a  defeat  into  a  vic 
tory. 

GENERAL-IN-CHIEF, 

MOST  EXCELLENT  SIR  :  Constant  in  my  purpose  of 
preventing  General  Taylor  from  uniting  the  forces  which 
he  brought  from  the  Fronton  of  Sante  Isabel,  with 
those  which  he  left  fortified  opposite  Matamoras,  I 
moved  this  day  from  the  Fanques  del  Raminero,  whence 
I  despatched  my  last  extraordinary  courier,  and  took  the 
direction  of  Palo  Alto,  as  soon  as  my  spies  informed  me 
that  the  enemy  had  left  Fronton,  with  the  determination 
of  introducing  into  his  fort  wagons  loaded  with  provi 
sions  and  heavy  artillery. 

I  arrived  opposite  Palo  Alto  about  one  o'clock, 
and  observed  that  the  enemy  was  entering  that  posi 
tion. 

With  all  my  forces,  I  established  the  line  of  battle  in 
a  great  plain,  my  right  resting  upon  an  elevation,  and 
my  left  on  a  slough  of  difficult  passage. 

Scarcely  was  the  first  cannon  fired,  when  there  arrived 
General  Pedro  de  Ampudia,  second  in  command,  whom 
I  had  ordered  to  join  me  after  having  covered  the  points 
which  might  serve  to  besiege  the  enemy  in  the  forts 
opposite  Matamoras. 

The  forces  under  my  orders  amounted  to  3000  men, 
and  twelve  pieces  of  artillery  ;  those  of  the  invaders 


TAYLOR.  69 

were  3000,  rather  less  than  more,  and  were  superior  in 
artillery,  since  they  had  twenty  pieces  of  the  calibre  of 
sixteen  and  eighteen  pounds. 

The  battle  commenced  so  ardently,  that  the  fire  of 
cannon  did  not  cease  a  single  moment.  In  the  course 
of  it,  the  enemy  wished  to  follow  the  road  towards 
Matamoras,  to  raise  the  siege  of  his  troops  ;  with  which 
object  he  fired  the  grass,  and  formed  in  front  of  his  line 
of  battle  a  smoke  so  thick,  that  he  succeeded  in  cover 
ing  himself  from  our  view,  but  by  means  of  manoeuvres 
this  was  twice  embarrassed. 

General  Taylor  maintained  his  attack  rather  defen 
sively  than  offensively,  employing  his  best  arm,  which 
is  artillery,  protected  by  half  of  the  infantry,  and  all  of 
his  cavalry, — keeping  the  remainder  fortified  in  the 
ravine,  about  two  thousand  yards  from  the  field  of 
battle. 

I  was  anxious  for  the  charge,  because  the  fire  of  can 
non  did  much  damage  in  our  ranks,  and  I  instructed 
General  D.  Anastasio  Torrejon  to  execute  it  with  the 
greater  part  of  the  cavalry,  by  our  left  flank,  while  one 
should  be  executed  at  the  same  time  by  our  right  flank, 
wi;h  some  columns  of  infantry,  and  the  remainder  of 
that  arm  [cavalry]. 

I  was  waiting  the  moment  when  that  general  should 
execute  the  charge,  and  the  effect  of  it  should  begin  to 
be  seen,  in  order  to  give  the  impulse  on  the  right ;  but 
he  was  checked  by  fire  of  the  enemy,  which  defended 
a  slough  that  embarrassed  the  attack. 

Some  battalions,  becoming  impatient  by  the  loss 
which  they  suffered,  fell  into  disorder,  demanding  to 
advance  or  fall  back.  I  immediately  caused  them  to 
charge  with  a  column  of  cavalrv,  under  the  command 


70  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

of  Colonel  D.  Cayetano  Montero;  the  result  of  this  ope 
ration  being  that  the  dispersed  corps  repaired  their  fault 
as  far  as  possible,  marching  towards  the  enemy,  who,  in 
consequence  of  his  distance,  was  enabled  to  fall  back 
upon  his  reserve,  and  night  coming  on,  the  battle  was 
concluded, — the  field  remaining  for  our  arms. 

Every  suitable  measure  was  then  adopted,  and  the 
division  took  up  a  more  concentrated  curve  in  the  same 
scene  of  action. 

The  combat  was  long  and  bloody,  which  may  be  esti 
mated  from  the  calculations  made  by  the  commandant- 
general  of  artillery,  General  D.  Thomas  Requena,  who 
assures  me  that  the  enemy  threw  about  three  thousand 
cannon-shots  from  two  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  battle 
commenced,  until  seven  at  night,  when  it  terminated,; — 
six  hundred  and  fifty  being  fired  on  our  side. 

The  national  arms  shone  forth,  since  they  did  not 
yield  a  hand's-breadth  of  ground,  notwithstanding  the 
superiority  in  artillery  of  the  enemy,  who  suffered  much 
damage. 

Our  troops  have  to  lament  the  loss  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty-two  men,  dispersed,  wounded,  and  killed, — 
the  last  wrorthy  of  national  recollection  and  gratitude  for 
the  intrepidity  with  which  they  died  fighting  for  the 
most  sacred  of  causes. 

Will  your  excellency  please  with  this  note  to  report 
to  his  excellency  the  President,  representing  to  him  that 
I  will  take  care  to  give  a  circumstantial  account  of  this 
deed  of  arms  ;  and  recommending  to  him  the  good  con 
duct  of  all  the  generals,  chiefs,  officers,  and  soldiers 
under  my  orders,  for  sustaining  so  bloody  a  combat, 
which  does  honour  to  our  arms,  and  exhibits  their  dis 
cipline. 


TAYLOR. 


71 


Accept  the  assurances  of  ray  consideration  and  great 
regard. 

God  and  Liberty ! 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  PALO  ALTO,  in  sight  of  the  enemy,  May  8, 
1846. 

MARIANO  ARISTA. 

MOST  EXCELLENT  SIR,  j 

Minister  of  War  and  Marine.  ) 

When  the  American  army  had  formed  its  line  of  battle 
in  front  of  the  Mexicans  on  the  8th  of  May,  Lieutenant 
J.  E.  Blake,  of  the  topographical  engineers,  mounted 
his  horse  and  rode  out  within  150  yards  of  the  enemy's 
lines  to  reconnoitre.  He  then  dismounted,  drew  out  his 
pocket  glass  very  deliberately,  and  began  to  reconnoitre. 

On  this  being  observed  by  the  enemy,  two  of  their 
officers  rode  out  from  the  ranks  to  meet  him,  supposing 
that  he  sought  a  parley.  Seeing  this,  Blake  remounted 
his  horse,  rode  deliberately  down  the  whole  of  the 
enemy's  line,  and  then  returning,  gave  General  Taylor 
an  accurate  account  of  the  enemy's  force  in  infantry, 
artillery,  and  cavalry.  This  action  called  forth  the  un 
qualified  admiration  of  the  thousands  who  witnessed 
it :  and  increased  the  regret  occasioned  by  his  subsequent 
loss.  On  the  morning  of  the  next  day,  this  fine  officer 
received  a  mortal  wound  from  the  accidental  explosion 
of  one  of  his  pistols  as  he  threw  down  his  holsters.  He 
died  a  few  hours  afterwards,  expressing  his  regret  that 
he  had  not  fallen  on  the  battle-field  of  Palo  Alto.  His 
remains  were  subsequently  brought  to  the  residence  of 
his  father  in  Philadelphia,  and  honoured  with  a  public 
funeral  of  the  most  magnificent  kind.  A  whole  city 
mourned  the  loss  of  one  of  her  noblest  sons. 

One  of  the  most  romantic  incidents  of  Resaca  de  la 


72  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS.  , 

Palma,  was  Captain  May's  capture  of  the  heroic  Vega. 
The  Mexicans  had  been  driven  from  their  guns  by  May's 
dragoons,  and  charged  back  with  the  bayonet  to  recover 
them.  May,  with  a  handful  of  men,  charged  again,  and 
the  Mexicans  fell  back.  He  observed  that  one  alone 
kept  his  ground,  and  tried  to  rally  the  others.  Failing 
in  this,  he  seized  a  match,  intending  to  discharge  one  of 
the  cannon,  when  May  ordered  him  to  surrender.  He 
touched  his  breast,  and  said  "  General  La  Vega  is  a  prison 
er,"  and  gave  up  his  sword.  The  incidents  which  fol 
lowed,  are  thus  described  by  a  correspondent  of  the 
Baltimore  Republican : 

"  I  have  seen  it  stated,  in  some  of  the  late  papers,  that 
General  Vega  was  delivered  to  General  Taylor  on  the 
battle-field  by  Colonel  Twiggs.  This  is  an  error — cer 
tainly  of  no  consequence  after  his  capture  by  the  gallant 
May ;  but  as  everything  connected  with  the  treatment 
of  this  distinguished  prisoner  on  the  field,  must  be  more 
or  less  interesting,  I  beg  leave  to  correct  the  error,  and 
to  state  what  befell  the  gallant  general,  after  he  was  con 
ducted  to  Colonel  Twiggs,  by  order  of  Captain  May. 

"  The  artillery  battalion  (a  regiment  of  foot)  was  sta 
tioned  on  the  9th  at  the  outset  of  the  chapparal,  and  was 
there  formed  <  in  square.'  This  battalion,  which  had 
suffered  the  day  before  mote  than  any  other,  except  the 
8th  infantry,  was  placed  in  this  position  for  these  reasons : 
to  protect  the  train  against  a  charge  of  the  enemy's  cav 
alry,  to  repair  any  disaster  which  might  occur  in  the 
ordnance,  and  to  afford  fresh  troops  for  the  pursuit,  when 
the  battle  was  gained. 

"  Colonel  Twiggs  sent  for  Colonel  Childs,  who  com 
manded  it,  and  turned  the  prisoner  over  to  him ;  but 
Childs,  having  dismounted  (General  Vega  was  on  foot), 


TAYLOR.  M 

sent  an  order  to  his  battalion,  that  the  prisoner  should 
be  received  with  the  honour  due  his  rank.  As  soon  as 
the  prisoner  issued  from  the  chapparal,  the  words  c  Pre 
sent  Arms'  were  given.  The  square  <  presented  arms' 
in  perfect  silence,  and,  as  he  approached,  not  a  smile  of 
gratification,  or  a  word  of  exultation,  was  seen  or  heard  ; 
(so  much  for  the  delicacy  of  the  common  soldier,  who 
had,  perhaps,  the  day  before,  lost  his  nearest  friend  by 
the  enemy's  cannon-shot.)  General  Vega  seemed  sur 
prised  at  the  salute,  courteously  and  slowly  raised  his 
hat,  and  the  square  was  brought  to  a  shoulder. 

"  Colonel  Childs  then  called  from  his  position  Captain 
Magruder,  who  commanded  one  of  the  companies  of  the 
square.  Captain  Magruder  had  known  General  Vega 
before,  and  immediately  insisted  upon  his  mounting  his 
(Captain  M.'s)  horse.  No  sooner  was  this  done,  than  it 
became  necessary  for  the  battalion  to  move  on,  and  Cap 
tain  Magruder  was  ordered  by  Colonel  Childs  to  escort 
the  prisoner,  in  security,  with  a  small  command,  to 
General  Taylor.  Fortunately  no  rescue  was  attempted, 
as  his  command  was  very  small,  and  the  order  was 
promptly  executed,  when  General  Vega  was  introduced 
on  the  field,  by  Captain  Magruder,  to  General  Taylor. 
General  Taylor  shook  him  warmly  by  the  hand,  and  ad 
dressed  to  him  the  following  handsome  remarks : 

u  £  General :  I  do  assure  you,  I  deeply  regret  that  this 
misfortune  has  fallen  upon  you.  I  regret  it  sincerely,  and 
I  take  great  pleasure  in  returning  you  the  sword  which 
you  have  this  day  worn  with  so  much  gallantry,'  handing 
him,  at  the  same  time,  the  swrord  which  General  Vega 
had  yielded  to  Captain  May.  General  Vega  made  a 
suitable  reply  in  Spanish,  and  was  then  taken  charge  of 
by  Colonel  Twiggs,  at  the  colonel's  own  request,  and 


74  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

entertained  by  him  in  the  most  hospitable  manner,  in  his 
own  tent,  until  his  departure  for  New  Orleans. 

"  One  must  record  and  admire  so  much  courtesy  and 
gentleness,  united,  in  a  most  sanguinary  field,  with  so 
much  devotion  and  courage." 


CHAPTER  V. 

Taylor's  humanity — Exchange  of  prisoners — Our  army  crosses 
the  Rio  Grande — Capture  of  Matamoras. 

ON  the  morning  after  the  battle  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma, 
General  Taylor,  with  his  usual  humanity,  sent  to  Mata 
moras  for  Mexican  surgeons  to  attend  their  own  W7ounded, 
and  for  men  to  bury  their  dead ;  and  the  same  day  was 
occupied  by  the  Americans  in  burying  their  dead. 

On  the  llth  of  May  an  exchange  of  prisoners  took 
place ;  and  General  Taylor  started  for  Point  Isabel  for 
the  purpose  of  communicating  with  Commodore  Conner, 
commanding  the  American  squadron  in  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  who  had  sailed  to  Brazos  Santiago,  in  order  to 
render  aid  to  the  general.  The  interview  is  thus  hu 
morously  described  by  Mr.  Thorpe,  in  his  book  entitled 
"  Our  Army  on  the  Rio  Grande,"  which  we  would 
remark,  in  passing,  is  by  far  the  most  accurate,  full,  and 
entertaining  account  of  the  early  operations  of  the  Army 
of  Occupation,  which  has  yet  appeared. 

"  The  singular  simplicity  that  marks  General  Taylor's 
personal  appearance  and  habits,  has  become  a  subject 
of  universal  fame.  It  is  curious  that  a  soldier,  so  emi 
nent  in  all  the  qualities  of  discipline,  should  be  so 
citizen-looking  in  his  own  appearance.  Commodore 
Conner,  on  the  contraiy,  is  an  officer  that  is  not  only 
strict  in  his  dress,  but  has  an  extra  nicety  about  it.  He 
appears  in  full  and  splendid  uniform  on  all  public  occa- 


76  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

sions,  being  the  exact  contrast,  in  this  particular,  of 
General  Taylor. 

"At  the  proper  time,  Commodore  Conner  sent  word 
to  General  Taylor,  that  he  would  come  on  shore  to  pay 
him  a  visit  of  ceremony.  This  put  old  <  Rough  and 
Ready'  into  a  tremendous  excitement.  If  Commodore 
Conner  had  quietly  come  up  to  his  tent,  and  given  him 
a  sailors  grip,  and  sat  down  on  a  camp-chest,  and 
talked  over  matters  in  an  old-fashioned  way,  General 
Taylor  would  have  been  prepared ;  but,  to  have  the 
most  carefully- dressed  officer  in  our  navy,  commanding 
the  finest  fleet,  come  in  full  uniform,  surrounded  by  all 
the  glittering  pomp  of  splendid  equipments — to  pay  a 
visit  of  ceremony,  was  more  than  General  Taylor  had, 
without  some  effort,  nerve  to  go  through  with ;  but,  ever 
equal  to  the  emergencies,  he  determined  to  compliment 
Commodore  Conner,  and  through  him  the  navy,  by  ap 
pearing  in  full  uniform,  a  thing  his  officers,  associated 
with  him  for  years,  had  never  witnessed. 

"  In  the  meanwhile,  Commodore  Conner  was  cogita 
ting  over  the  most  proper  way  to  compliment  General 
Taylor.  Having  heard  of  his  peculiar  disregard  of  mili 
tary  dress,  he  concluded  he  would  make  the  visit  in  a 
manner  comporting  to  General  Taylor's  habits,  and  con 
sequently  equipped  himself  in  plain  white  drilling,  and, 
unattended,  came  ashore. 

"The  moment  General  Taylor  heard  that  Commodore 
Conner  had  landed,  he  abandoned  some  heavy  work  he 
was  personally  attending  to  about  the  camp,  and  precipi 
tately  rushed  intov  his  tent,  delved  at  the  bottom  of  an 
old  chest,  and  pulled  out  a  uniform  coat,  that  had  peace 
fully  slumbered  for  years  in  undisturbed  quietude,  slipped 
himself  into  it,  in  his  haste  fastening  it  so  that  one  side 
of  the  standing  collar  was  three  button-holes  above  the 


TAYLOH.  77 

other,  and  sat  himself  down  as  uncomfortable  as  can 
well  be  imagined.  With  quiet  step,  and  unattended, 
Commodore  Conner  presented  himself  at  General  Tay 
lor's  tent.  The  noble  representatives  of  the  army  and 
navy  shook  hands,  both  in  exceeding  astonishment  at 
each  other's  personal  appearance. 

"  The  wags  of  the  army  say,  that  the  above  contains 
the  only  authentic  account  of  General  Taylor's  ever 
being  '  headed,'  and  that  since  that  time,  he  has  taken 
to  linen  roundabouts,  of  the  largest  dimensions,  with 
more  pertinacity  than  ever." 

The  following  despatch  contains  General  Taylor's 
own  account  of  his  movements  on  the  12th. 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION,      i 
Point  Isabel.  Texas ,  May  12,  1846.  J 

SIR  :  I  am  making  a  hasty  visit  to  this  place,  for  the 
purpose  of  having  an  interview  with  Commodore  Con 
ner,  whose  squadron  is  now  at  anchor  off  the  harbour, 
and  arranging  with  him  a  combined  movement  up  the 
river.  I  avail  myself  of  the  brief  time  at  my  command 
to  report  that  the  main  body  of  the  army  is  now 
occupying  its  former  position  opposite  Matamoras. 
The  Mexican  forces  are  almost  disorganized,  and  I  shall 
lose  no  time  in  investing  Matamoras,  and  opening  the 
navigation  of  the  river. 

I  regret  to  report  that  Major  Ringgold  died  the 
morning  of  the  ilth  instant,  of  the  severe  wound  re 
ceived  in  the  action  of  Palo  Alto.  With  the  exception 
of  Captain  Page,  whose  wound  is  dangerous,  the  other 
wounded  officers  are  doing  well.  In  my  report  of  the 
second  engagement,  I  accidentally  omitted  the  name 
of  Lieutenant  Dobbins,  3d  infantry,  among  the  officers 
slightly  wounded,  and  desire  that  the  omission  may  be 


78  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

supplied  in  the  despatch  itself.  I  am  under  the  painful 
necessity  of  reporting  that  Lieutenant  Blake,  Topogra 
phical  Engineers,  after  rendering  distinguished  service 
in  my  staff  during  the  affair  of  the  8th  instant,  acci 
dentally  shot  himself  with  a  pistol  on  the  following  day, 
and  expired  before  night. 

It  has  been  quite  impossible  as  yet  to  furnish  detailed 
reports  of  our  engagements  with  the  enemy,  or  even 
accurate  returns  of  the  killed  and  wounded.  Our  loss 
is  not  far  from  three  officers  and  forty  men  killed,  and 
thirteen  officers  and  one  hundred  men  wounded  ;  while 
that  of  the  enemy  has  in  all  probability  exceeded  three 
hundred  killed ;  more  than  two  hundred  have  been 
buried  by  us  on  the  two  fields  of  battle. 

T  have  exchanged  a  sufficient  number  of  prisoners  to 
recover  the  command  of  Captain  Thornton.  The 
wounded  prisoners  have  been  sent  to  Matamoras — the 
wounded  officers  on  their  parole.  General  Vega  and  a 
few  other  officers  have  been  sent  to  New  Orleans, 
having  declined  a  parole,  and  will  be  reported  to  Major- 
General  Gaines.  I  am  not  conversant  with  the  usages 
of  war  in  such  cases,  and  beg  that  such  provision  may 
be  made  for  these  prisoners  as  may  be  authorized  by 
law.  Our  own  prisoners  have  been  treated  with  great 
kindness  by  the  Mexican  officers. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 

Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  */?.,  Commanding. 
The  ADJUTANT-GENERAL  of  the  Army,  j 
Washington,  D.  C.        i 

The  13th  and  14th  of  May  were  spent  by  General 
Taylor  in  organizing  and  despatching  a  force  to  capture 
Barita,  a  town  near  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande,  on 
the  Mexican  side,  where  the  enemy  was  said  to  be  con- 


TAYLOR.  79 

centrating  the  remains  of  his  shattered  and  vanquished 
army.  Commodore  Conner  ordered  a  part  of  his  fleet 
to  co-operate,  and  the  place  was  quietly  taken  on  the 
15th,  the  inhabitants  fleeing  on  the  approach  of  the 
Americans. 

The  next  operation  was  the  capture  of  Matamoras. 
Everything  was  ready  for  an  attack  on  the  town  on  the 
evening  of  the  16th. 

On  the  morning  of  the  17th,  about  sunrise,  Gene 
ral  Ampudia  gave  the  signal  that  he  wished  a  parley 
with  General  Taylor.  He  sent  over  to  the  % camp  a 
person,  and  requested  of  General  Taylor  the  granting 
of  an  armistice.  To  this  General  Taylor  replied,  "  Sir, 
the  time  for  asking  an  armistice  is  past ;  you  should 
have  thought  of  this  before  ;  it  is  now  too  late  to  think 
of  such  a  thing."  General  Ampudia  then  l  desired  a 
suspension  of  hostilities.  This,  also,  General  Taylor 
positively  refused.  He  had  brought  out  all  his  cannon  to 
the  front,  and  was  determined  they  should  render  some 
service,  at  the  same  time  pointing  to  the  cannon  and  its 
position.  General  Ampudia  then  asked  General  Taylor 
if  in  surrendering  the  town  he  would  be  allowed  to  ex 
cept  the  government  property.  General  Taylor  replied 
"  No,"  and  that  he  intended  to  take  the  town  at  8  A.  M. 
the  next  day. 

Ampudia  then  retired,  and  General  Taylor  marched 
his  forces  up  to  Fort  Brown,  and  at  daylight  commenced 
crossing  the  river.  No  resistance  was  affered  by  the 
Mexicans  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  it  is  said  many 
of  them  assisted  in  landing  the  boats.  One  officer,  a 
lieutenant,  was  drowned  in  crossing  the  river.  After 
crossing  they  were  met  by  a  number  of  Mexican  officers, 
who  desired  to  know  of  General  Taylor  if  they  could 
retain  the  government  property.  General  Taylor  re- 


80  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENEKALS. 

plied  "  that  he  wanted  all  the  town."  The  American 
forces  then  marched  into  the  place,  and  Adjutant  Bliss 
rode  up  to  the  fort,  and  sounding  the  parley,  demanded 
the  surrender  of  the  town.  He  was  asked  if  the 
government  property  would  be  excepted.  He  replied 
"  that  nothing  could  be  retained,  all  must  be  sur 
rendered." 

The  Mexican  flag  was  immediately  hauled  down, 
and  the  star-spangled  banner  was  run  up  in  its  stead. 

The  citizens  joined  loudly  in  the  cheering  of  the  army. 
A  sufficient  force  was  then  placed  in  the  fort,  and  the 
army,  after  moving  through  the  town,  drew  off  and  en 
camped  in  the  vicinity.  Not  a  gun  was  fired. 

On  arriving  at  the  city,  it  was  discovered  that  Arista 
had  departed  with  his  forces,  leaving  only  the  mounted 
battery  ;  all  the  mortars,  and  such  of  the  military  appa 
ratus  as  could  not  be  removed  in  their  haste  to  escape, 
were  thrown  into  the  wells.  A  party  from  our  army 
went  out  to  reconnoitre  immediately  after  the  entrance 
into  Matamoras,  and  overtook  a  portion  of  the  Mexi 
cans,  who  were  retreating,  twenty-two  of  whom  were 
made  prisoners. 

Arista  retreated  to  Reynosa, where  he  encamped,  wait 
ing  a  reinforcement  from  Paredes. 

General  Taylor,  like  a  true  American  officer,  gave 
orders  to  his  army  not  to  take  the  slightest  article  with 
out  paying  for  its  actual  value.  The  citizens  of  Mata 
moras  were  permitted  to  go  on  with  their  business  as 
usual,  with  the  exception  of  selling  liquors. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Siege  and  capture  of  Monterey. 

THE  following  letter  from  an  American  at  Point  Isabel, 
dated  May  26th,  1846,  gives  a  graphic  account  of  the 
state  of  affairs  which  immediately  followed  the  capture 
of  Matamoras : 

"  I  arrived  here  yesterday  morning,  on  the  steamer 
Florida,  after  a  passage  of  eight  days,  and  find  that  the 
news  of  the  taking  of  Matamoras  was  carried  from  here 
a  week  ago.  There  is  nothing  occurring  here  now  of  stir 
ring  interest,  the  righting  having  ceased,  for  some  weeks 
to  come  at  least,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  there 
will  be  no  more  of  it  on  the  Rio  Grande.  Our  army 
must  seek  the  enemy  in  their  own  country  if  they  desire 
to  meet  them  in  any  considerable  bodies.  Ampudia's 
defeat  on  the  8th  and  9th,  has  ruined  the  Mexican  army 
now7  in  the  north.  They  have  lost  everything,  mules, 
pack-saddles,  ammunition,  arms,  and  men  enough  to 
strike  terror  to  their  hearts.  Port  Polk,  as  this  point  is 
now  called,  is  a  complete  museum  at  the  present  moment, 
with  its  Mexican  booty — Mexican  prisoners,  mules, 
lances,  saddles  curiously  wrought,  leather  pack-saddles, 
huge  saddle-bags,  muskets,  drums,  ordnance,  copper 
cannon-balls,  grape-shot,  letters  and  all  kinds  of  docu 
ments  picked  up  on  the  ground  where  Arnpudia  was 
encamped.  One  of  the  officers,  who  was  in  the  two 
engagements,  says  that  the  supper  which  the  Mexicans 
had  in  their  confidence  prepared  for  themselves,  and 


82  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

which  they  were  obliged  so  suddenly  to  abandon,  afforded 
a  rich  repast  to  our  tired  and  hungry  officers  and  men. 
He  pronounces  their  liquors,  chocolate,  soups,  roast  beef, 
&c.,  to  have  been  first  rate.  Ampudia's  plate,  which 
was  valuable,  was  promptly  returned  to  him.  Most  of 
the  wounded  have  been  sent  to  Corpus  Christi,  but  there 
are  still  enough  here  to  represent  most  painfully  the  sad 
results  of  war.  Captain  Page,  whose  under  jaw  was 
completely  shot  away?  is  in  a  fair  way  of  recovering. 
Captain  Hooe  is  walking  about  with  the  stump  of  his 
right  arm  dangling  by  his  side,  and  appears  to  be  in 
excellent  humour.  Colonel  Mclntosh,  who  was  badly 
wounded,  was  stretched  out  yesterday  in  a  Mexican 
wagon,  trying  to  read.  He  was  stabbed  in  the  throat,  or 
rather  down  the  throat,  in  the  neck,  and  in  other  parts  of 
the  body,  and  was  repeatedly  knocked  down  in  the  fight. 
Lieutenant  Maclay,  who  wras  wounded  in  the  action  of 
the  9th,  is  here,  with  an  awfully  sore  shin,  across  which 
a  Mexican  grape-shot  passed,  shaving  a  leetle  closer  than 
wras  safe,  as  it  carried  with  it  a  slice  of  bone  and  sinew. 
Instances  of  individual  heroism  occurred  at  those  two 
engagements  which  would  have  immortalized  a  Spartan. 
"  Volunteers  are  gathering  here  in  crowds.  Yesterday 
the.  Ondiaka,  Mary  Kingsland,  Florida,  and  Orleans, 
arrived  with  troops  from  New  Orleans.  A  company  of 
Texan  rangers  came  down  to  Padre  Island,  and  were 
crossing  over  last  evening.  Some  are  encamped  near 
the  fort,  on  the  prairie,  and  six  companies  of  Louisiana 
volunteers  are  encamped  on  the  Point,  3|  miles 
distant,  at.  the  bar.  I  had  the  pleasure,  yesterday,  of 
meeting  General  Memucan  Hunt,  of  the  Texan  volun 
teers.  The  general  looks  well,  and  is  anxious  to  be  on 
the  field.  His  men  are  hardy-looking  fellows.  All  they 
pray  for  is  to  be  permitted  to  go  out  through  the  interior, 


TAYLOR.  83 

as  our  army  marches  on  towards  Mexico,  and  to  take 
such  towns  as  they  can  reach.  Their  knowledge  of  the 
country,  their  hardihood,  and  experience  in  fighting 
Mexicans,  fit  them  peculiarly  for  such  service. 

"  There  are  more  than  twenty  vessels  lying  here,  inside 
arid  outside  of  the  bar — one  frigate  of  war,  and  the 
balance  transports  and  trading- vessels.  The  Florida 
drew  less  than  seven  feet,  and  bumped  heavily  on  the 
bar,  as  she  came  over  yesterday  morning.  The  sutlers 
put  the  screws  to  the  poor  soldiers  here  at  a  cruel  rate, 
in  the  way  of  charges.  It  is  really  outrageous,  and 
should  be  looked  to  by  those  in  power." 

General  Taylor,  although  now  in  possession  of  Mata- 
moras,  found  himself  in  no  condition  to  advance  further 
into  the  enemy's  country.  He  was  deficient  not  only  in 
troops,  but  in  supplies  and  the  means  of  transportation. 
It  became  necessary,  therefore,  for  him  to  remain  at  this 
post  through  the  greater  part  of  the  summer,  waiting  for 
the  necessary  means  of  prosecuting  the  invasion. 

The  Mexican  inhabitants  of  Matamoras,  though  at  first 
rather  shy  of  the  Americans,  soon  became  familiarized 
with  them,  and  readily  furnished  provisions,  taking  care 
to  be  very  liberally  paid  for  them.  Assassinations  of  strag 
glers  from  the  camp  occasionally  took  place ;  but  on  the 
whole  the  inhabitants  seemed  cheerfully  to  acquiesce  in 
the  altered  state  of  affairs. 

In  the  beginning  of  June  General  Taylor's  force  did 
not  exceed  9000  men,  including  750  stationed  at  Barita, 
and  500  at  Point  Isabel.  Reinforcements  were  coming 
in  slowly  from  the  different  states  of  the  union,  and,  al 
though  he  was  anticipating  the  arrival  of  a  sufficient  force 
to  warrant  his  advance  towards  Monterey,  where  the 
enemy  was  concentrating  his  forces,  neither  men  nor 


84  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

steamboats  had  yet  arrived  sufficient  to  enable  him  even  to 
fix  the  time  of  his  departure.  r^1- .'-.< 

In  the  meantime  the  Mexicans  were  not  only  dis 
couraged  by  defeat,  but  distracted  by  internal  dissensions. 
Paredes,  the  president  of  the  republic,  was  reported  to 
have  superseded  his  defeated  generals  and  assumed  the 
command  ;  but  his  authority  was  defied  by  Arista,  who 
was  organizing  one  of  those  insurrections  which  are  so 
frequent  in  the  political  history  of  Mexico.  The  election 
of  the  16th  of  June,  however,  resulted  in  the  choice 
of  Paredes  as  president,  and  General  Bravo,  the  gover 
nor  of  Vera  Cruz,  as  vice  president. 

By  the  military  arrangements  which  followed  this  re 
organization  of  the  government,  General  Arevalo  was 
sent  to  Monterey,  and  Bravo  to  Mexico,  while  Mejia 
was  placed  in  the  command  of  the  northern  army,  and 
Ampudia  was  ordered  to  San  Luis  Potosi.  Monterey, 
being  considered  the  most  probable  scene  of  General 
Taylor's  next  operations,  wras  strongly  fortified  and  fur 
nished  with  provisions  and  munitions  of  war. 

Before  the  end  of  June  General  Taylor  was  strongly  rein 
forced  by  the  arrival  of  numerous  bodies  of  fresh  volunteers 
from  various  parts  of  the  union  ;  but  his  means  of  transpor 
tation  were  still  deficient.  A  very  intelligent  writer  says, 
"  Had  General  Taylor  received  the  number  of  volunteers 
he  called  for  in  the  first  instance,  with  a  sufficiency  of 
steamers  with  which  to  move  them  and  their  subsistence, 
it  is  thought  by  those  best  acquainted  that  the  4th  of 
July  would  have  been  celebrated  in  M.onterey  instead  of 
Matamoras.  The  Mexicans  certainly  could  not  have 
recovered  from  the  panic  with  which  they  started  from 
Resaca  de  la  Palma  in  season  to  make  a  formidable  stand 
this  side  the  mountains,  so  that  Monterey  could  have 
been  taken  without  firing  a  gun.  It  is  too  late  now.  A 


TAYLOR.  85 

tardiness  in  forwarding  steamers  has  deprived  the  com 
manding  general  of  a  most  glorious  opportunity  of  occu 
pying  one  of  the  strongest  holds  of  the  enemy." 

Qn  the  other  hand,  the  secretary  of  war,  in  his  annual 
report,  thus  apologizes  for  the  apparent  neglect  of  the 
government  to  follow  up  the  brilliant  successes  of  General 
Taylor  by  prompt  and  adequate  support : 

"  Owing  to  the  great  difficulty  in  providing  the  means 
of  transporting  supplies  for  so  large  a  force  as  that  con 
centrated  on  the  Rio  Grande ;  to  the  necessity  of  draw 
ing  all  those  supplies  from  the  United  States — the  enemy's 
country  being  destitute  of  them  ;  to  the  unusual  freshets 
which  retarded  the  progress  of  boats  on  the  river,  and  to 
the  impracticability  of  the  land  route  for  wagons  at  that 
time,  arrangements  for  the  movement  upon  Monterey 
from  Matamoras,  by  the  way  of  Camargo,  the  route 
selected  by  the  commanding  general,  were  not  completed 
until  the  latter  part  of  August,  when  a  column,  consisting 
of  about  6000  regular  and  volunteer  troops,  commenced 
a  forward  movement  by  brigade  upon  Seralvo,  and  thence 
upon  Monterey,  before  which  place  it  arrived  on  the  19th 
of  September." 

In  the  meantime  Captain  McCulloch  with  the  Texan 
rangers  had  seized  and  occupied  the  Mexican  ports  of 
Reynosa,  Camargo,  and  Mier,  without  resistance  on  the 
part  of  the  enemy.  It  was  not  until  the  5th  of  August, 
nearly  three  months  after  the  battle  of  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  that  General  Taylor  was  able  to  take  up  his 
line  of  march  from  Matamoras  for  Camargo.  On 
arriving  at  that  place,  General  Worth  was  detached  to 
San  Juan,  while  Captain  Wall  occupied  Reynosa,  and 
General  TwTiggs  had  been  left  in  command  of  Matamo 
ras.  Towards  the  end  of  August,  General  Worth  was 
ordered  to  advance  to  Seralvo  and  there  to  await  further 


86  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

orders.  From  this  port  he  sent  advices  to  General 
Taylor  on  the  5th  of  September,  that  Monterey  had 
just  been  reinforced  by  the  arrival  of  3000  men  under 
General  Ampudia,  thus  increasing  the  garrison  to 
4000. 

This  important  information  determined  General  Tay 
lor  to  advance  immediately  and  attack  Monterey.  He 
accordingly  took  up  his  line  of  march  towards  Seralvo 
on  the  7th,  leaving  General  Patterson  in  command  of  all 
the  forces  stationed  between  Camargo  and  Matamoras. 

Disencumbering  his  troops  of  all  unnecessary  baggage, 
and  sending  forward  his  supplies  on  pack-mules  to 
Seralvo,  Taylor  now  hastened  eagerly  on  to  the  next 
scene,  in  his  grand  drama.  On  his  arrival  at  Seralvo, 
instead  of  waiting  for  further  reinforcements  or  fresh 
orders  before  attacking  so  formidable  a  fort  with  so 
light  a  force,  he  pushed  forward  for  Monterey  with  his 
main  body,  consisting  of  but  little  more  than  6000 
men. 

Signs  of  opposition  now  began  to  appear.  Skirmish 
ing  parties  made  some  slight  demonstrations  at  Ramas, 
but  were  easily  swept  aside ;  and  deserters  from  the 
enemy  spoke  of  formidable  preparations  in  the  city 
which  the  army  was  so  rapidly  approaching.  Still  there 
was  no  faltering.  Every  officer  and  man  was  eager  to 
hear  the  first  roar  of  the  enemy's  cannon.  Three 
months  of  inaction  had  rendered  them  eager  for  the 
coming  contest. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  September,  the  army 
encamped  at  the  "  Walnut  Springs,"  within  three  milts 
of  the  city  of  Monterey.  Here  they  could  survey  the 
prospect  before  them — Monterey  seated  in  a  beautiful 
valley,  bosomed  among  lofty  and  imposing  mountains  On 
the  north,  east,  and  south,  and  open  to  a  plain  on  the 


TAYLOR.  87 

east,  fortified  with  thick  stone  walls  in  the  old  Spanish 
fashion  of  another  century,  with  all  the  apparatus  of 
ditches  and  bastions,  and  lowering  upon  them  with  deep- 
mouthed  cannon.  From  their  elevated  position  the 
Americans  could  see  in  part  what  they  had  already 
learnt  from  spies  and  deserters,  that  the  flat-roofed  stone 
houses  of  the  city  itself,  had  been  converted  into  fortifi 
cations.  Every  street  wras  barricaded,  and  every  house 
top  was  bristling  with  musketry.  On  one  side  the 
Americans  could  see  the  Bishop's  Palace,  ax  strong  fort 
well  fortified  ;  on  the  other,  redoubts  well  manned;  and  in 
the  rear  of  all,  a  river.  Such  was  the  city  which  was 
destined  after  three  days  of  desperate  fighting,  to  sur 
render  its  garrison  of  10,000  men,  its  castles,  redoubts, 
cannon  and  munitions  of  war,  to  an  American  army  of 
7000  men,  inspirited  by  the  guiding  genius  of  Taylor. 

General  Taylor's  despatches  always  afford  the  clearest 
possible  coup  d'ceil  of  the  ground  plan  of  his  operations. 
We  shall  therefore  commence  our  notice  of  this  siege  in 
his  own  words ;  and  then  give  the  official  reports  of  his 
officers,  following  up  these  documents  by  the  personal 
narrative  of  an  eye-witness,  whose  details  of  individual 
feeling,  and  deeds  of  personal  prowess,  will  serve  to  fill 
up  and  colour  the  outline  contained  in  the  official  des 
patches. 

GENERAL  TAYLOR'S  DESPATCH. 

HEAD-QUARTERS?  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATIONJ  ) 
Camp  near  Monterey,  Oct.  9th^  1846.      j 

SIR:  I  have  now  the  honour  to  submit  a  detailed 
report  of  the  recent  operations  before  Monterey,  re 
sulting  in  the  capitulation  of  that  city. 

The  information  received  on  the  route  from  Seralvo, 
and  particularly  the  continual  appearance  in  our  front 

of  the   Mexican  cavalry,  which   had  a  slight  skirmish 
6 


88  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

with  our  advance  at  the  village  of  Ramas,  induced  the 
belief,  as  we  approached  Monterey,  that  the  enemy 
would  defend  that  place.  Upon  reaching  the  neigh 
bourhood  of  the  city  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  Sep 
tember,  this  belief  was  fully  confirmed.  It  was  ascer 
tained  that  he  occupied  the  town  in  force  ;  that  a  large 
work  had  been  constructed  commanding  all  the  northern 
approaches  ;  and  that  the  Bishop's  Palace,  and  some 
heights  in  its  vicinity  near  the  Saltillo  road,  had  also 
been  fortified,  and  occupied  with  troops  and  artillery. 
It  was  known,  from  information  previously  received,  that 
the  eastern  approaches  were  commanded  by  several 
small  works  in  the  lower  edge  of  the  city. 

The  configuration  of  the  heights  and  gorges  in  the 
direction  of  the  Saltillo  road,  as  visible  from  the  point 
attained  by  our  advance  on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  led 
me  to  suspect  that  it  was  practicable  to  turn  all  the 
works  in  that  direction,  and  thus  cut  off  the  enemy's 
line  of  communication.  After  establishing  my  camp  at 
the  "  Walnut  Springs,"  three  miles  from  Monterey,  the 
nearest  suitable  position,  it  was,  accordingly,  my  first 
care  to  order  a  close  reconnoissance  of  the  ground  in 
question,  which  \vas  executed  on  the  evening  of  the 
19th,  by  the  engineer  officers  under  the  direction  of 
Major  Mansfield.  A  reconnoissance  of  the  eastern  ap 
proaches  was  at  the  same  time  made  by  Captain  Wil 
liams,  Topographical  Engineers.  The  examination  made 
by  Major  Mansfield  proved  the  entire  practicability  of 
throwing  forward  a  column  to  the  Saltillo  road,  and  thus 
turning  the  position  of  the  enemy.  Deeming  this  to  be 
an  operation  of  essential  importance,  orders  were  given 
to  Brevet-Brigadier  General  Worth,  commanding  the 
second  division,  to  march  with  his  command  on  the 
20th  ;  to  turn  the  hill  of  the  Bishop's  Palare:  to  occupy 


TAYLOR.  0» 

a  position  on  the  Saltillo  road,  and  to  carry  the  enemy's 
detached  works  in  that  quarter,  where  practicable.  The 
first  regiment  of  Texas  mounted  volunteers,  under  com 
mand  of  Colonel  Hays,  was  associated  with  the  second 
division  on  this  service.  Captain  Sanders,  Engineers, 
and  Lieutenant  Meade,  Topographical  Engineers,  were 
also  ordered  to  report  to  General  Worth  for  duty  with 
his  column. 

At  two  o'clock  P.  M.  on  the  20th,  the  2d  division  took 
up  its  march.  It  \vas  soon  discovered,  by  officers  who 
were  reconnoitering  the  town,  and  communicated  to 
General  Worth,  that  its  movement  had  been  perceived, 
and  that  the  enemy  was  throwing  reinforcements  towards 
the  Bishop's  Palace,  and  the  height  which  commands  it. 
To  divert  his  attention  as  far  as  practicable,  the  first 
division,  under  Brigadier-General  Twiggs,  and  field 
division  of  volunteers,  under  Major-General  Butler, 
were  displayed  in  front  of  the  town  until  dark.  Ar 
rangements  were  made  at  the  same  time  to  place  in 
battery,  during  the  night,  at  a  suitable  distance  from  the 
enemy's  main  work,  the  citadel,  two  24-pounder  howit 
zers,  and  a  10-inch  mortar,  with  a  view  to  open  a  fire 
on  the  following  day,  when  I  proposed  to  make  a  diver 
sion  in  favour  of  General  Worth's  movement.  The  4th 
infantry  covered  this  battery  during  the  night.  General 
Worth  had  in  the  meantime  reached  and  occupied,  for 
the  night,  a  defensive  position  just  without  range  of  a 
battery  above  the  Bishop's  Palace,  having  made  a  re- 
connoissance  as  far  as  the  Saltillo  road. 

Before  proceeding  to  report  the  operations  of  the  21st 
and  the  following  days,  I  beg  leave  to  state  that  I  shall 
mention  in  detail  only  those  which  were  conducted 
against  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  city,  or  elsewhere, 
under  my  immediate  direction,  referring  you  for  the 


90  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

particulars  of  General  Worth's  operations,  which  were 
entirely  detached,  to  his  own  full  report  transmitted 
herewith. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  I  received  a  note 
from  General  Worth,  written  at  half  past  nine  o'clock  the 
night  before,  suggesting  what  I  had  already  intended, 
a  strong  diversion  against  the  centre  and  left  of  the 
town,  to  favour  his  enterprise  against  the  heights  in 
rear.  The  infantry  and  artillery  of  the  1st  division,  and 
the  field  division  of  volunteers,  were  ordered  under  arms, 
and  took  the  direction  of  the  city,  leaving  one  company 
of  each  regiment  as  a  camp  guard.  The  2d  dragoons, 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  May,  and  Colonel  Woods' 
regiment  of  Texas  mounted  volunteers,  under  the  imme 
diate  direction  of  General  Henderson,  were  directed  to  the 
right  to  support  General  Worth,  if  necessary,  and  to  make 
an  impression,  if  practicable,  upon  the  upper  quarter  of  the 
city.  Upon  approaching  the  mortar  battery,  the  1st 
and  3d  regiments  of  infantry,  and  battalion  of  Baltimore 
and  Washington  volunteers,  with  Captain  Bragg's  field 
battery — the  whole  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Garland — were  directed  towards  the  lower  part 
of  the  town,  with  orders  to  make  a  strong  demonstra 
tion,  and  carry  one  of  the  enemy's  advanced  works,  if 
it-could  be  done  without  too  heavy  loss.  Major  Mans 
field,  Engineers,  and  Captain  Williams  and  Lieutenant 
Pope,  Topographical  Engineers,  accompanied  this  col 
umn,  Major  Mansfield  being  charged  with  its  direction, 
and  the  designation  of  points  of  attack. 

In  the  meantime,  the  mortar,  served  by  Captain  Ram 
say,  of  the  ordnance,  and  the  howitzer  battery  under 
Captain  Webster,  1st  artillery,  had  opened  their  fire  upon 
the  citadel,  which  was  deliberately  sustained,  and  an 
swered  from  the  work.  General  Butler's  division  had 


TAYLOR.  91 

now  taken  up  a  position  in  rear  of  this  battery,  when  the 
discharges  of  artillery,  mingled  finally  with  a  rapid  fire 
of  small  arms,  showed  that  Lieutenant  Garland's  com 
mand  had  become  warmly  engaged.  I  now  deemed  it 
necessary  to  support  this  attack,  and  accordingly  ordered 
the  4th  infantry,  and  three  regiments  of  General  Butler's 
division,  to  march  at  once,  by  the  left  flank,  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  advanced  work  at  the  lower  extremity  of  the 
town,  leaving  one  regiment  (1st  Kentucky)  to  cover  the 
mortar  and  howitzer  battery.  By  some  mistake,  two 
companies  of  the  4th  infantry  did  not  receive  this  order, 
and,  consequently,  did  not  join  the  advance  companies 
until  some  time  afterwards. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland's  command  had  approach 
ed  the  town  in  a  direction  to  the  right  of  the  advanced 
work  (No.  1,)  at  the  north-eastern  angle  of  the  city,  and 
the  engineer  officer,  covered  by  skirmishers,  had  suc 
ceeded  in  entering  the  suburbs  and  gaining  cover. 
The  remainder  of  this  command  now  advanced  and  en 
tered  the  town  under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  from  the 
citadel  and  the  works  on  the  left,  and  of  musketry  from 
the  houses  and  small  works  in  front.  A  movement  to 
the  right  was  attempted,  with  a  view  to  gain  the  rear  of 
No.  1 ,  and  carry  that  work,  but  the  troops  were  so  much 
exposed  to  a  fire  which  they  could  not  effectually  return, 
and  had  already  sustained  such  severe  loss,  particularly 
in  officers,  that  it  was  deemed  best  to  withdraw  them  to 
a  more  secure  position.  Captain  Backus,  1st  infantry, 
however,  with  a  portion  of  his  own  and  other  companies, 
had  gained  the  roof  of  a  tannery,  which  looked  directly 
into  the  gorge  of  No.  1,  and  from  which  he  poured  a 
most  destructive  fire  into  that  work  and  upon  the  strong 
building  in  its  rear.  This  fire  happily  coincided  in  point 
of  time  with  the  advance  of  a  portion  of  the  volunteer 


92  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

division  upon  No.  1,  and  contributed  largely  to  the  fall 
of  that  strong  and  important  work. 

The  three  regiments  of  the  volunteer  division,  under 
the  immediate  command  of  Major- General  Butler,  had 
in  the  meantime  advanced  in  the  direction  of  No.  1. 
The  leading  brigade,  under  Brigadier-General  Quitman, 
continued  its  advance  upon  that  work,  preceded  by  three 
companies  of  the  4th  infantry,  while  General  Butler,  with 
the  1st  Ohio  regiment,  entered  the  town  to  the  right. 
The  companies  of  the  4thv  infantry  had  advanced  within 
short  range  of  the  work,  when  they  were  received  by  a 
fire  that  almost  in  one  moment  struck  down  one-third  of 
the  officers  and  men,  and  rendered  it  necessary  to  retire 
and  effect  a  conjunction  with  the  two  other  companies 
then  advancing.  General  Quitman's  brigade,  though 
suffering  most  severely,  particularly  in  the  Tennessee 
regiment,  continued  its  advance,  and  finally  carried  the 
work  in  handsome  style,  as  well  as  the  strong  building 
in  its  rear.  Five  pieces  of  artillery,  a  considerable  sup 
ply  of  ammunition,  and  thirty  prisoners,  including  three 
officers,  fell  into  our  hands. 

Major- General  Butler,  with  the  1st  Ohio  regiment, 
after  entering  the  edge  of  the  town,  discovered  that  no 
thing  was  to  be  accomplished  in  his  front,  and  at  this 
point,  yielding  to  the  suggestions  of  several  officers,  I 
ordered  a  retrogade  mgvement ;  but  learning  almost  im 
mediately  from  one  of  my  staff  that  the  battery  No.  1 
was  in  our  possession,  the  order  was  countermanded, 
and  I  determined  to  hold  the  battery  and  defences  al 
ready  gained.  General  Butler,  with  the  1st  Ohio  regi 
ment,  then  entered  the  town  at  a  point  further  to  the 
left,  and  marched  in  the  direction  of  the  battery  No.  2. 
While  making  an  examination  with  a  view  to  ascer 
tain  the  possibility  of  carrying  this  second  work  by 


TAYLOR.  93 

storm,  the  general  was  wounded  and  soon  after  com 
pelled  to  quit  the  field.  As  the  strength  of  No.  2,  and 
the  heavy  musketry  fire  flanking  the  approach,  ren 
dered  it  impossible  to  carry  it  without  great  loss,  the  1st 
Ohio  regiment  was  withdrawn  from  the  town. 

Fragments  of  the  various  regiments  engaged  were 
now  under  cover  of  the  captured  battery  and  some  build 
ings  in  its  front,  and  on  the  right.  The  field  battery  of 
Captains  Bragg  and  Ridgely  was  also  partially  covered 
by  the  battery.  An  incessant  fire  was  kept  on  this  posi 
tion  from  battery  No.  2,  arid  other  works  on  its  right, 
and  from  the  citadel  on  all  our  approaches.  General 
Twiggs,  though  quite  unwell,  joined  me  at  this  point, 
and  was  instrumental  in  causing  the  artillery  captured 
from  the  enemy  to  be  placed  in  battery,  and  served  by 
Captain  Ridgely,  against  No.  2,  until  the  arrival  of 
Captain  Webster's  howitzer  battery,  which  took  its 
place.  In  the  meantime,  I  directed  such  men  as  could 
be  collected  of  the  1st,  3d,  and  4th  regiments  and  Balti 
more  battalion,  to  enter  the  town,  penetrating  to  the 
right,  and  carry  the  2d  battery  if  possible.  This  com 
mand,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland,  advanced  be 
yond  the  bridge  "  Purisima,"  when,  finding  it  impracti 
cable  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  2d  battery,  a  portion  of  it 
sustained  themselves  for  some  time  in  that  advanced 
position  :  but  as  no  permanent  impression  could  be  made 
at  that  point,  and  the  main  object  of  the  general  opera 
tion  had  been  effected,  the  command,  including  a  section 
of  Captain  Ridgely's  battery,  which  had  joined  it,  was 
withdrawn  to  battery  No.  1.  During  the  absence  of 
this  column,  a  demonstration  of  cavalry  was  reported  in 
the  direction  of  the  citadel.  Captain  Bragg,  who  was 
at  hand,  immediately  galloped  with  his  battery  to  a 
suitable  position,  from  which  a  few  discharges  effectually 


94  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

dispersed  the  enemy.  Captain  Miller,  1st  infantry,  was 
despatched  with  a  mixed  command  to  support  the  bat 
tery  on  this  service.  The  enemy's  lancers  had  pre 
viously  charged  upon  the  Ohio  and  a  part  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  regiments,  near  some  fields  at  a  distance  from 
the  edge  of  the  town,  and  had  been  repulsed  with  con 
siderable  loss.  A  demonstration  of  cavalry  on  the  oppo 
site  side  of  the  river  was  also  dispersed  in  the  course  of 
the  afternoon  by  Captain  Pcidgely's  battery,  and  the 
squadrons  returned  to  the  city.  At  the  approach  of 
evening  all  the  troops  that  had  been  engaged  were  or 
dered  back  to  the  camp,  except  Captain  Ridgely's  bat 
tery  and  the  regular  infantry  of  the  1st  division,  who 
were  detailed  as  a  guard  for  the  works  during  the  night, 
under  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland.  One 
battalion  of  the  1st  Kentucky  regiment  was  ordered  to 
reinforce  this  command.  Intrenching  tools  were  pro 
cured,  and  additional  strength  was  given  to  the  works, 
and  protection  to  the  men,  by  working-parties  during 
the  night,  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant  Scarritt, 
Engineers. 

The  main  object  proposed  in  the  morning  had  been 
effected.  A  powerful  diversion  had  been  made  to 
favour  the  operations  of  the  2d  division,  one  of  the 
enemy's  advanced  works  had  been  carried,  and  we  now 
had  a  strong  foot-hold  in  the  town.  But  this  had  not 
been  accomplished  without  a  very  heavy  loss,  embracing 
some  of  our  most  gallant  and  accomplished  officers. 
Captain  Williams,  Topographical  Engineers  ;  Lieutenants 
Terrett  and  Dilworth,  1st  infantry;  Lieutenant  Woods, 
2d  infantry;  Captains  Morris  and  Field,  Brevet-Major 
Barbour,  Lieutenants  Irwin  and  Hazlitt,  3d  infantry  ; 
Lieutenant  Hoskins,  4th  infantry;  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Watson,  Baltimore  battalion;  Captain  A'len  and  Lieu- 


TAYLOR.  95 

tenant  Putnam,  Tennessee  regiment,  and  Lieutenant 
Hett,  Ohio  regiment,  were  killed,  or  have  since  died  of 
wounds  received  in  this  engagement,  while  the  number 
and  rank  of  the  officers  wounded  gives  additional  proof 
of  the  obstinacy  of  the  contest,  and  the  good  conduct 
of  our  troops.  The  number  of  killed  and  wounded  inci 
dent  to  the  operations  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  on 
the  21st  is  394. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  this  day  (21st),  the  advance 
of  the  2d  division  had  encountered  the  enemy  in  force, 
and  after  a  brief  but  sharp  conflict,  repulsed  him  with 
heavy  loss.  General  Worth  then  succeeded  in  gaming 
a  position  on  the  Saltillo  road,  thus  cutting  the  enemy's 
line  of  communication.  From  this  position  the  twro 
heights  south  of  the  Saltillo  road  were  carried  in  succes 
sion,  and  the  guns  taken  in  one  of  them  turned  upon 
the  Bishop's  Palace.  These  important  successes  were 
fortunately  obtained  with  comparatively  small  loss : 
Captain  McKavett,  8th  infantry,  being  the  only  officer 
killed. 

The  22d  day  of  September  passed  without  any  active 
operations  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city.  The  citadel 
and  other  works  continued  to  fire  at  parties  exposed  to 
their  range,  and  at  the  work  now  occupied  by  our  troops. 
The  guard  left  in  it  the  preceding  night,  except  Captain 
Ridgely's  company,  was  relieved  at  mid-day  by  General 
Quitman's  brigade.  Captain  Bragg's  battery  was 
thrown  under  cover  in  front  of  the  town,  to  repel  any 
domonstration  of  cavalry  in  that  quarter.  At  dawn  of 
day  the  height  above  the  Bishop's  Palace  was  carried, 
and  soon  after  meridian  the  Palace  itself  was  taken,  and 
its  guns  turned  upon  the  fugitive  garrison.  The  object 
for  which  the  2d  division  was  detached  had  thus  been 
completely  accomplished,  and  I  felt  confident  that  with  a 


96  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

strong  force  occupying  the  road  and  heights  in  his  rear, 
and  a  good  position  below  the  city  in  our  possession,  the 
enemy  could  not  possibly  maintain  the  town. 

During  the  night  of  the  22d  the  enemy  evacuated 
riearly  all  his  defences  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city. 
This  was  reported  to  me  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
23d,  by  General  Quitman,  who  had  already  meditated 
an  assault  upon  those  works.  I  immediately  sent  in 
structions  to  that  officer,  leaving  it  to  his  discretion  to 
enter  the  city,  covering  his  men  by  the  houses  and  walls, 
and  advance  carefully  so  far  as  he  might  deem  prudent. 

After  ordering  the  remainder  of  the  troops  as  a  re 
serve,  under  the  orders  of  Brigadier-General  Twiggs, 
I  repaired  to  the  abandoned  works,  and  discovered  that 
a  portion  of  General  Quitman's  brigade  had  entered  the 
town,  'and  were  successfully  forcing  their  way  towards 
the  principal  plaza.  I  then  ordered  up  the  2d  regiment 
of  Texas  mounted  volunteers,  who  entered  the  city,  dis 
mounted,  and,  under  the  immediate  orders  of  General 
Henderson,  co-operated  with  General  Quitrnan's  bri 
gade.  Captain  Bragg's  battery  was  also  ordered  up, 
supported  by  the  3d  infantry,  and  after  firing  for  some 
time  at  the  Cathedral,  a  portion  of  it  was  likewise 
thrown  into  the  city.  Our  troops  advanced  from  house 
to  house,  and  from  square  to  square,  until  they  reached 
a  street  but  one  square  in  rear  of  the  principal  plaza,  in 
and  near  which  the  enemy's  force  was  mainly  concen 
trated.  This  advance  was  conducted  vigorously,  but 
with  due  caution,  and  although  destructive  to  the  enemy, 
was  attended  with  but  small  loss  on  our  part.  Captain 
Ridgely,  in  the  meantime,  had  served  a  captured  piece 
in  battery  No.  1  against  the  city,  until  the  advance  of 
our  men  rendered  it  imprudent  to  fire  in  the  direction  of 
the  Cathedral.  I  was  now  satisfied  that  we  could  ope- 


TAYLOR.  97 

rate  successfully  in  the  city,  and  that  the  enemy  had 
retired  from  the  lower  portion  of  it  to  make  a  stand  be 
hind  his  barricades.  As  General  Quitman's  brigade  had 
been  on  duty  the  previous  night,  I  determined  to  with 
draw  the  troops  to  the  evacuated  works,  and  concert 
with  General  Worth  a  combined  attack  upon  the  town. 
The  troops  accordingly  fell  back  deliberately,  in  good 
order,  and  resumed  their  original  positions,  General 
Quitman's  brigade  being  relieved  after  nightfall  by  that 
of  General  Hamer.  On  my  return  to  camp,  I  met  an 
officer  with  the  intelligence  that  General  Worth,  induced 
by  the  firing  in  the  lower  part  ,of  the  city,  was  about 
making  an  attack  at  the  upper  extremity,  which  had 
also  been  evacuated  by  the  enemy  to  a  considerable  dis 
tance.  I  regretted  that  this  information  had  not  reached 
me  before  leaving  the  city,  but  still  deemed  it  inexpedient 
to  change  my  orders,  and  accordingly  returned  to  camp. 
A  note  from  General  Worth,  written  at  11  o'clock 
P.  M.,  informed  me  that  he  had  advanced  to  within  a 
short  distance  of  the  principal  plaza,  and  that  the  mortar 
(which  had  been  sent  to  his  division  in  the  morning) 
was  doing  good  execution  within  effective  range  of  the 
enemy's  position. 

Desiring  to  make  no  further  attempt  upon  the  city 
without  complete  concert  as  to  the  lines  and  mode  of 
approach,  I  instructed  that  officer  to  suspend  his  ad 
vance  until  I  could  have  an  interview  with  him  on  the 
following  morning,  at  his  head-quarters. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  24th  I  received,  through 
Colonel  Moreno,  a  communication  from  General  Am- 
pudia,  proposing  to  evacuate  the  town  ;  which,  with  the 
answer,  were  forwrarded  with  my  first  despatch.  I  ar 
ranged  with  Colonel  Moreno  a  cessation  of  fire  until 
twelve  o'clock,  at  which  hour  I  would  receive  the  answer 


98  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

of  the  Mexican  general  at  General  Worth's  head-quar 
ters,  to  which  I  soon  repaired.  In  the  meantime,  Gene 
ral  Ampudia  had  signified  to  General  Worth  his  desire 
for  a  personal  interview  with  me,  to  which  I  acceded, 
and  which  finally  resulted  in  a  capitulation,  placing  the 
town  and  the  material  of  war,  with  certain  exceptions, 
in  our  possession.  A  copy  of  that  capitulation  was 
transmitted  with  my  first  despatch. 

Upon  occupying  the  city,  it  was  discovered  to  be  of 
great  strength  in  itself,  and  to  have  its  approaches  care 
fully  and  strongly  fortified.  The  town  and  works  were 
armed  with  forty-two  pieces  of  cannon,  well  supplied 
with  ammunition,  and  manned  with  a  force  of  at  least  7000 
troops  of  the  line,  and  from  2000  to  3000  irregulars. 
The  force  under  my  orders  before  Monterey,  as  exhibited 
by  the  accompanying  return,  was  425  officers,  and  6220 
men.  Our  artillery  consisted  of  one  ten  inch  mortar, 
two  twenty-four  pounder  howitzers,  and  four  light  field 
batteries  of  four  guns  each — the  mortar  being  the  only 
piece  suitable  to  the  operations  of  a  siege. 

Our  loss  is  twelve  officers  and  108  men  killed  ;  thirty, 
one  officers  and  337  men  wounded.  That  of  the  enemy 
is  not  known,  but  is  believed  considerably  to  exceed 
our  own. 

I  take  pleasure  in  bringing  to  the  notice  of  the  govern 
ment  the  good  conduct  of  the  troops,  both  regulars  and 
volunteers,  which  has  been  conspicuous  throughout  the 
operations.  I  am  proud  to  bear  testimony  to  their  cool 
ness  and  constancy  in  battle,  and  the  cheerfulness  with 
which  they  have  submitted  to  exposure  and  privation. 
To  the  general  officers  commanding  divisions — Major- 
Generals  Butler  and  Henderson,  and  Brigadier-Generals 
Twiggs  and  Worth — I  must  express  my  obligations  for 
the  efficient  aid  which  they  have  rendered  in  their  re- 


TAYLOR. 

spective  commands.  I  was  unfortunately  deprived,  early 
on  the  21st,  of  the  valuable  services  of  Major-General 
Butler,  who  was  disabled  by  a  wound  received  in  the 
attack  -on  the  city.  Major-General  Henderson,  com 
manding  the  Texan  volunteers,  has  given  me  important 
aid  in  the  organization  of  his  command,  and  its  subse 
quent  operations.  Brigadier-General  Twiggs  rendered 
important  services  with  his  division,  and,  as  the  second 
in  command,  after  Major-General  Butler,  was  disabled. 
Brigadier-General  Worth  was  intrusted  with  an  important 
detachment,  which  rendered  his  operations  independent 
of  my  own.  These  operations  were  conducted  with 
ability,  and  crowned  with  complete  success.  I  desire 
also  to  notice  Brigadier-Generals  Hamer  and  Quitman, 
commanding  brigades  in  General  Butler's  division. 
Lieutenant-Colonels  Garland  and  Wilson,  commanding 
brigades  in  General  Twiggs's  division  ;  Colonels  Mitch 
ell,  Campbell,  Davis,  and  Wood,  commanding  the  Ohio, 
Tennessee,  Mississippi,  and  2d  Texas  regiments,  re 
spectively  ;  and  Majors  Lear,  Allen,  and  Abercrombie, 
commanding  the  3d,  4th,  and  1st  regiments  of  infantry  : 
all  of  whom  served  under  my  eye,  and  conducted  their 
commands  with  coolness  and  gallantry  against  the  enemy. 
Colonel  Mitchell,  Lieutenant-Colonel  M'Clung,  Missis 
sippi  regiment.  Major  Lear,  3d  infantry,  and  Major  Alexan 
der,  Tennessee  regiment, were  all  severely  wounded,  as  were 
Captain  Lamotte,  1st  infantry,  Lieutenant  Graham,  4th 
infantry,  Adjutant  Armstrong,  Ohio  regiment,  Lieutenants 
Scudder  and  Allen,  Tennessee  regiment,  and  Lieutenant 
Howard,  Mississippi  regiment,  while  leading  their  men 
against  the  enemy's  position  on  the 21st  and  23d.  After  the 
fall  of  Colonel  Mitchell,  the  command  of  the  1st  Ohio 
regiment  devolved  upon  Lieutenant-Colonel  Weller ; 
that  of  the  3d  infantry,  after  the  fall  of  Major  Lear, 


100          TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

devolved  in  succession  upon  Captain  Bainbridge  and 
Captain  Henry,  the  former  being  also  wounded.  The 
following  named  officers  have  been  favourably  noticed 
by  their  commanders :  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson 
and  Adjutant  Heiman,  Tennessee  regiment ;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  M'Clung,  Captains  Cooper  and  Downing; 
Lieutenants  Batterson,  Calhoun,  Moore,  Russel,  and 
Cook,  Mississippi  regiments ;  also  Sergeant  -  Major 
Hearlan,  Mississippi  regiment ;  and  Major  Price  and 
Captain  J.  R.  Smith,  unattached,  but  serving  with  it. 
I  beg  leave  also  to  call  attention  to  the  good  conduct  of 
Captain  Johnson,  Ohio  regiment,  and  Lieutenant  Hooker, 
1st  artillery,  serving  on  the  staff  of  General  Hamer, 
and  of  Lieutenant  Nichols,  2d  artillery,  on  that  of 
General  Quitman.  Captains  Bragg  and  Ridgely  served 
with  their  batteries  during  the  operations  under  my  own 
observation,  and  in  part  under  my  immediate  orders,  and 
exhibited  distinguished  skill  and  gallantry.  Captain  Web 
ster,  1st  artillery,  assisted  by  Lieutenants  Donaldson  and 
Bowen,  rendered  good  service  with  the  howitzer  battery, 
which  was  much  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire  on  the  21st. 

From  the  nature  of  the  operations,  the  2d  dragoons 
were  not  brought  into  action,  but  were  usefully  employed, 
under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  May,  as 
escorts,  and  in  keeping  open  our  communications.  The 
1st  Kentucky  regiment  was  also  prevented  from  par 
ticipating  in  the  action  of  the  21st,  but  rendered  highly 
important  services,  under  Colonel  Orrasby,  in  covering 
the  mortar  battery,  and  holding  in  check  the  enemy's 
cavalry  during  the  day. 

I  have  noticed  above,  the  officers  whose  conduct 
either  fell  directly  under  my  own  immediate  eye,  or  is 
noticed  only  in  minor  reports  which  are  not  forwarded. 
For  further  mention  of  individuals,  I  beg  leave  *->  refer 


TAYLOR.  101 

to  the  reports  of  division  commanders  herewith  respect 
fully  transmitted.  I  fully  concur  in  their  recommenda 
tions,  and  desire  that  they  may  be  considered  as  a  part 
of  my  own  report. 

From  the  officers  of  my  personal  staff  and  of  the  engi 
neers,  topographical  engineers,  and  ordnance,  associated 
with  me,  I  have  derived  valuable  and  efficient  assistance 
during  the  operations.  Colonel  Whiting,  assistant  quar 
termaster-general,  Colonels  Croghan  and  Belknap,  in 
spectors-general,  Major  Bliss,  assistant  adjutant-general, 
Captain  Sibley,  assistant  quartermaster,  Captain  Wag- 
gaman,  commissary  of  subsistence,  Captain  .Eaton  and 
and  Lieutenant  Garnett,  aids-de-camp,  and  Majors 
Kirby  and  Van  Buren,  pay  department,  served  near  my 
person,  and  were  ever  prompt,  in  all  situations,  in  the 
communication  of  my  orders  and  instructions.  I  must 
express  my  particular  obligations  to  Brevet-Major  Mans 
field  and  Lieutenant  Scarritt,  corps  of  engineers.  They 
both  rendered  most  important  services  in  reconniotring 
the  enemy's  positions,  conducting  troops  in  attack,  and 
strengthening  the  works  captured  from  the  enemy. 
Major  Mansfield,  though  wounded,  on  the  21st,  remained 
on  duty  during  that  and  the  following  day,  until  con 
fined  by  his  wound  to  camp.  Captain  Williams,  Topo 
graphical  Engineers,  to  my  great  regret  and  the  loss  of 
the  service,  was  mortally  wounded  while  fearlessly  ex 
posing  himself  in  the  attack  of  the  21st.  Lieutenant 
Pope,  of  the  same  corps,  was  active  and  zealous 
throughout  the  operations.  Major  Munroe,  chief  of  the 
artillery,  Major  Craig,  and  Captain  Ramsey,  of  the  ord 
nance,  were  assiduous  in  the  performance  of  their 
proper  duties.  The  former  superintended  the  mortar- 
service  on  the  22d,  as  particularly  mentioned  in  the 
report  of  General  WTorth,to  which  I  also  refer  for  the 


102  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

services  of  the  engineers  and  topographical  officers  de 
tached  with  the  second  division. 

Surgeon  Craig,  medical  director,  was  actively  em 
ployed  in  the  important  duties  of  his  department,  and  the 
medical  staff  generally  were  unremitting  in  their  atten 
tions  to  the  numerous  wounded — their  duties  with  the 
regular  regiments  being  rendered  uncommonly  arduous 
by  the  small  number  serving  in  the  field. 

I  respectfully  enclose  herewith,  in  addition  to  the 
reports  of  division  commanders,  a  field  return  of  the  force 
before  Monterey  on  the  21st  of  September — a  return  of 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing  during  the  operations — and 
two  topographical  sketches — one  exhibiting  all  the  move 
ments  around  Monterey — the  other  on  a  larger  scale, 
illustrating  more  particularly  the  operations  in  the  lower 
quarter  of  the  city — prepared  respectively  by  Lieutenants 
Mead  and  Pope,  Topographical  Engineers.* 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Major-General  U.  S.  ji.,  Commanding. 

The  ADJUTANT-GENERAL  of  the  Army, 
Washington,  D.  C 

The  operations  of  General  Worth  with  his  command 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  city  are  detailed  in  the  fol 
lowing  full  report,  from  that  able  and  distinguished 
officer : — 

GENERAL  WORTH'S  REPORT. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  2o  DIVISION  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION,    j 
Monterey.  Mexico,  September  28,  1846.  ) 
SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  report  that,  in  obedience  to 
the  verbal  orders  of  the  general-in-chief,  the  division 

*  The 'reports  referred  to  in  this  despatch  are  superseded 
bj  the  particular  details  which  the  general  gives  in  the  des- 

TiataVl   itftfilf    nnH    aro  tliarofnrn  rtm\\\oc\ 


TAYLOR.  103 

under  my  com  maud,  composed  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Duncan's  batter}  of  horse  artillery,  artillery  battalion, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Childs,  and  eighth  regiment,  Captain 
Scriver,  constituting  the  first  brigade,  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Staniford  ;  Lieutenant  Mackall's  battery,  horse 
artillery,  fifth  infantry,  (Major  Scott ;)  seventeenth, 
(Captain  Miles  ;)  and  one  company  Louisiana  volun 
teers,  (Captain  Blanchard ;)  second  brigade,  under 
Brigadier-General  Persifor  F.  Smith,  (colonel  of  rifles,) 
and  Colonel  Hays's  regiment  of  Texan  mounted  rifle 
men,  moved  from  the  main  camp  at  El  Basque  de  St. 
Domingo  at  two  o'clock  P.  M.  on  the  20th. 

My  instructions  were  by  a  detour  to  the  right,  to 
endeavour  to  find  and  reach  the  Saltillo  road,  effect  a 
thorough  reconnoissance  of  the  approaches  to  the  city 
from  that  direction,  to  cut  off  supplies  and  reinforce 
ments,  and,  if  practicable,  carry  the  heights. 

Owing  to  the  difficulties  of  the  ground  after  leaving 
the  Marin,  and  before  striking  the  Presquina  Grande 
road,  the  division  had  reached  only  six  miles,  in  con 
sequence  of  the  delay  in  making  the  route  practicable  for 
artillery,  which  service  was  performed  by  Captain 
Sanders,  at  six  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  was  halted  just 
without  the  range  of  a  gun-battery  on  the  summit  of 
an  isolated  hill  called  Loma  de  Independence,  midway 
on  the  ascent  of  which  was  the  Bishop's  Palace.  Thence 
a  reconnoissance  was  made,  under  cover  of  detach 
ments  of  Hays's  Texans,  to  the  intersection  of  the  Pres 
quina  Grande  route,  then  in  our  possession,  with  the 
Saltillo  road.  This  examination  resulted  in  the  convic 
tion  that  the  grounds  in  our  front  and  on  our  left,  in 
advance,  constituted  at  the  same  time  the  weak  and 
the  strong  points  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  entered 
mainly  into  the  defences  of  the  city — the  weak  point, 
7 


104          TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

because  commanding  the  only  lines  of  retreat  and  of 
supply  in  the  direction  of  Saltillo,  and  controlling  that 
in  the  direction  of  Presquina  Grande ;  the  strong  point, 
because  of  the  peculiarly  defensive  character  of  the 
hills  and  gorges,  and  of  the  very  careful  and  skilful 
manner  with  which  they  had  been  fortified  and  guarded. 
It  was  also  clearly  indicated  that  our  further  advance 
would  be. strenuously  resisted. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st,  the  division  was  put  in 
motion,  and  with  such  formation  as  to  present  the 
readiest  order  of  battle,  on  any  point  of  assault.  At 
six,  the  advance,  consisting  of  Hays's  Texans,  sup 
ported  by  the  light  companies  1st  brigade,  under  Cap 
tain  C.  F.  Smith  (both  extended,  as  the  valley  widened 
or  contracted),  closely  followed  by  Duncan's  light 
artillery  and  battalion,  heads  of  columns,  on  turning  an 
angle  of  the  mountain  at  a  hacienda  called  San  Jero- 
?ii?7io,  came  upon  a  strong  force  of  cavalry  and  infantry, 
mostly  the  former.  A  conflict  immediately  ensued. 
The  Texans  received  the  heavy  charge  of  cavalry  with 
their  unerring  rifles  and  usual  gallantry  ;  the  light  com 
panies  opened  a  rapid  and  well  directed  fire  ;  Duncan's 
battery  was  in  action  in  one  minute  (promptly  supported 
by  a  section  of  Mackall's),  delivering  its  fire  over  the 
heads  of  our  men.  Ere  the  close  of  the  combat,  which 
lasted  but  fifteen  minutes,  the  first  brigade  had  formed 
to  the  front,  on  the  right  and  left,  and  delivered  its  fire. 
The  second  brigade  was  held  in  reserve,  the  ground  not 
admitting  of  its  deployment.  The  enemy  retired  in 
disorder  (leaving  on  the  ground  100  killed  and  wounded  : 
among  the  former,  Don  Juan  N.  Najua,  colonel  of  the 
permanent  regiment  of  lancers)  upon  the  Saltillo  road, 
and  was  closely  pursued,  until  we  got  possession  of  the 
gorge,  where  all  the  debouches  from  Monterey  unite, 


TAYLOR.  105 

whereby  the  force  just  defeated,  as  also  reinforcements 
and  supplies  from  that  direction,  were  excluded  from 
entering  the  city.  At  this  important  point  the  divi 
sion  was  halted,  and  attention  directed  to  the  mountain 
forts  which  envelope  the  city  on  its  western  and 
south-western  faces.  Soon  discovering,  however,  that 
our  position  brought  us  within  effective  range  of  the 
batteries,  the  troops  were  advanced  some  eight  hundred 
yards  further  on  the  Saltillo  road. 

The  examination,  thus  far,  had  manifested,  besides 
the  importance  of  the  positions,  the  impracticability  of 
any  effective  operations  against  the  city,  until  possessed 
of  the  exterior  forts  and  batteries.  Independent,  how 
ever,  of  ulterior  objects,  the  occupation  of  these  heights 
became  indispensable  to  the  restoration  of  our  lines  of 
communication  with  head-quarters,  necessarily  aban 
doned  -for  the  moment  in  order  to  secure  the  gorges  of 
the  Saltillo  road.  At  twelve  M.,  a  force  was  detached 
under  Captain  C.  F.  Smith,  with  orders  to  storm  the 
batteries  on  the  crest  of  the  nearest  hill,  called  Federa 
tion,  and  after  taking  that  to  carry  the  fort  called  Sol- 
dada,  on  the  ridge  of  the  same  height,  retired  about 
600  yards.  The  two  effectually  guarded  the  slopes  and 
roads  in  either  valley,  and  consequently  the  approaches 
to  the  city.  This  command  consisted  of  four  companies 
(K  2d,  B  3d,  and  G  and  H  4th  artillery,)  of  the  artillery 
battalion,  and  Green's,  McGowan's,  R.  A.  Gillespie's, 
Chandler's,  Ballone's,  and  McCulloch's  companies  of 
Texan  riflemen,  under  Major  Chevalier,  acting  in  co 
operation — in  all  about  300  effectives.  It  was  impos 
sible  to  mask  the  movement  of  the  storming  party.  On 
approaching  the  base  of  the  mountain,  the  guns  of  both 
batteries  opened  a  plunging  fire,  and  numerous  light 
troops  were  seen  descending  and  arranging  themselves 


106          TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

at  favourable  points  on  the  slopes.  Perceiving  the 
indications  of  determined  resistance,  Captain  Miles  was 
detached  from  the  7th,  to  support  and  co-operate  with 
the  first  party. 

In  a  short  time  the  fire  became  general,  the  enemy 
gradually  yielding  and  retiring  up  the  rugged  acclivity, 
and  our  men  as  steadily  pursuing.  The  appearance  of 
heavy  reinforcements  on  the  summit,  and  the  cardinal 
importance  of  the  operation  demanding  further  support, 
the  5th  under  Major  Scott,  and  Blanchard's  companies 
of  volunteers  were  immediately  detached,  accompanied 
by  Brigadier- General  Smith,  who  was  instructed  to  take 
direction  in  that  quarter.  On  reaching  the  advance 
parties,  General  Smith  discovered  that  under  favour  of 
the  ground,  he  could,  by  directing  a  portion  of  the  force 
to  the  right,  and  moving  it  obliquely  up  the  hill,  carry 
the  Soldada  simultaneously  with  the  Federaciori.  He 
accordingly  very  judiciously  pointed  and  accompanied 
the  5th,  7th,  and  Blanchard's  company  in  that  direction. 
Captain  Smith's  command  having  most  gallantly  carried 
the  first  object  of  attack,  promptly  turned  the  captured 
gun — a  nine-pounder — upon  the  second,  and  moved 
on  with  his  main  body  to  participate  in  the  assault  on 
Soldada,  which  was  carried  in  gallant  style  by  the 
forces  under  Scott,  Miles,  Blanchard,  and  Hays  (who 
had  been  detached  on  special  service,  but  who  returned 
in  time  to  share  with  fifty  of  his  men  in  the  first  assault, 
and  to  take  a  prominent  part  in  the  second),  the  whole 
directed  by  General  Smith. 

At  this  point  we  secured  another  nine-pounder,  and 
immediately  both  pieces  were  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
Bishop's  Palace,  situated  upon  and  midway  the  southern 
slope  of  the  hill  Independencia,  a  valley  of  only  six 
hundred  yards  intervening.  We  had  now  secured  an 


TAYLOR.  107 

important  advantage,  and  yet  but  half  the  work  was  done. 
The  possession  of  these  heights  only  made  the  more 
apparent  the  controlling  importance  of  those  opposite, 
and  the  necessity  of  occupying  the  palace.  A  violent 
storm  ensued,  and  night  closing  in,  operations  for  the 
day  ceased.  The  troops  had  now  been  thirty-six  hours 
without  food  and  constantly  tasked  to  the  utmost  physical 
exertions.  Such  as  could  be  permitted  slept  with  arms 
in  hand,  subjected  to  a  pelting  storm,  and  without 
covering  till  three  A.  M.,  when  they  were  aroused  to 
carry  the  hill  Independencia. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Childs  was  assigned  to  lead  the 
storming  party,  consisting  of  three  companies,  I  and  G, 
(fourth),  and  A,  (third  artillery  battalion  ;)  three  compa 
nies  8th  infantry,  (A,  B,  and  D,  under  Captain  Scriven, 
with  two  hundred  Texan  riflemen,  under  Colonel  Hays 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Walker  (captain  of  rifles),  act 
ing  in  co-operation.  The  command  moved  at  three, 
conducted  to  its  point  of  ascent  by  Captain  Sanders, 
military,  and  Lieutenant  Meade,  topographical  engineers. 
Favoured  by  the  weather,  it  reached  by  the  dawn  of  day 
within  about  one  hundred  yards  of  the  crest,  in  which 
position,  among  the  clefts  of  rocks,  a  body  of  the  enemy 
had  been  stationed  the  previous  evening  in  apparent 
anticipation  of  the  attack.  The  enemy's  retreating  fire 
was  ineffectual,  and  riot  returned  until  Colonels  Childs 
and  Hays's  command  had  reached  to  within  a  few  yards 
of  the  summit,  when  a  well  directed  and  destructive  fire, 
followed  by  the  bayonet  of  the  regulars  and  rush  of  the 
Texans,  placed  us  in  possession  of  the  work  ;  the  cannon 
having  been  previously  withdrawn,  no  impression  could 
be  made  upon  the  massive  walls  of  the  palace  or  its 
outworks,  without  artillery,  except  at  enormous  sacrifice. 

Lieutenant  Rowland,  of  Duncan's  battery,  was  ordered 


108  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

from  the  main  rank  with  a  twelve-pound  howitzer,  and 
in  two  hours  (aided  by  fifty  men  from  the  line,  under 
Captain  Sanders,  military  engineer,  for  the  purpose  of 
selecting  the  route  least  difficult)  that  enterprising  and 
gallant  officer  had  his  guns  in  position,  having  ascended 
an  acclivity  as  rugged  as  steep,  between  seven  and 
eight  hundred  feet  in  two  hours.  A  fire  was  immediately 
opened  from  the  howitzer,  covered  by  the  epaulement  of 
the  captured  battery,  upon  the  palace  and  its  outworks, 
four  hundred  yards  distant,  and  soon  produced  a  visible 
sensation.  Meanwhile,  to  reinforce  the  position,  the 
fifth,  Major  Scott  and  Blanchard's  volunteers,  had  been 
passed  from  the  first  heights,  and  reached  the  second  in 
time  to  participate  in  the  operations  against  the  palace. 

After  many  affairs  of  light  troops  and  several  feints, 
a  heavy  sortie  was  made,  sustained  by  a  strong  corps  of 
cavalry,  with  desperate  resolution,  to  repossess  the 
heights.  Such  a  move  had  been  anticipated  and  pre 
pared  for.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Childs  had  advanced, 
under  cover,  two  companies  of  light  troops  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Vinton,  acting  major,  and  judi 
ciously  drawn  up  the  main  body  of  his  command, 
flanked  on  the  right  by  Hays,  and  left  by  Walker's 
Texans.  The  enemy  advanced  boldly,  was  repulsed 
by  one  general  discharge  from  all  arms,  fled  in  confusion, 
closely  pressed  by  Childs  and  Hays,  preceded  by  the 
light  troops  under  Vinton ;  and  while  they  fled  past,  our 
troops  entered  the  palace  and  fort.  In  a  few  moments 
the  unpretending  flag  of  our  union  had  replaced  -the 
gaudy  standard  of  Mexico.  The  captured  guns — one 
six-inch  howitzer,  one  twelve,  and  two  nine-pounder 
brass  guns,  together  with  Duncan's  and  Mackall's  field- 
batteries,  which  came  up  at  a  gallop,  were  in  full  and 
effective  play  upon  the  retiring  and  confused  masses 


TAYLOR.  109 

that  filled  the  street  (of  which  we  had  the  prolongation), 
leading  to  the  nearest  plaza,  La  Capella,  also  crowded 
with  troops.  At  this  moment  the  enemy's  loss  was 
heavy.  The  investment  was  now  complete.  Except  the 
forces  necessary  to  hold  the  positions  on  Independencia 
and  serve  the  guns  (shifted  to  points  where  the  shot 
could  be  made  to  reach  the  great  plaza),  the  division 
was  now  concentrated  around  the  palace,  and  prepara 
tion  made  to  assault  the  city  on  the  following  day,  or 
sooner,  should  the  general-in-chief  either  so  direct,  or, 
before  communication  be  had,  renew  the  assault  from 
the  opposite  quarter.  In  the  meantime  attention  was 
directed  to  every  provision  our  circumstances  permitted, 
to  alleviate  the  condition  of  our  wounded  soldiers  and 
officers;  to  the  decent  interment  of  the  dead,  not 
omitting  in  either  respect  all  that  was  due  to  those  of  the 
enemy. 

About  ten  A.  M.,  on  the  23d,  a  heavy  fire  was  heard 
in  the  opposite  quarter.  Its  magnitude  and  contin 
uance,  as  well  as  other  circumstances,  did  not  permit 
a  doubt  that  the  general  was  conducting  a  main  attack ; 
and  that  his  orders  for  my  co-operation  (having  to  travel 
a  circuit  of  some  six  miles,)  had  miscarried  or  failed  to 
reach  me,  by  means  of  the  numerous  cavalry  of  the 
enemy.  Under  these  convictions  the  troops  were  in 
stantly  ordered  to  commence  an  operation,  which,  if 
not  otherwise  directed,  I  had  designed  to  execute  in 
part,  under  favour  of  the  night.  Two  columns  of 
attack  were  organized,  to  move  along  the  two  principal 
streets,  leading  from  our  position,  in  direction  of  the 
great  plaza,  composed  of  light  troops  slightly  extended, 
with  orders  to  mask  the  men  whenever  practicable, 
avoid  those  points  swept  by  the  enemy's  artillery,  to 
press  on  to  the  first  plaza,  Capella,  to  get  hold  of  the 


110  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

ends  of  streets  beyond,  then  enter  the  buildings,  and  by 
means  of  picks  and  bars  break  through  the  longitudinal 
section  of  the  walls,  work  from  house  to  house,  and 
ascending  the  roofs,  to  place  themselves  on  the  same 
breast  height  with  the  enemy.  Light  artillery  by  sec 
tions  and  pieces,  under  Duncan,  Roland,  Mackall, 
Martin,  Hays,  Irons,  Clarke,  and  Curd,  followed  at 
suitable  intervals,  covered  by  reserves  to  guard  the 
pieces  and  the  whole  operation  against  the  probable 
enterprises  of  cavalry  upon  our  left.  This  was  effect 
ually  done  by  seizing  and  commanding  the  head  of 
every  cross  street.  The  streets  were,  at  different  and 
well-chosen  points,  barricaded  by  heavy  masonry  walls, 
with  embrasures  for  pne  or  more  guns,  and  in  every 
instance  well  supported  by  cross  batteries.  These 
arrangements  of  defence  gave  to  our  operations  at  this 
moment  a  complicated  character,  demanding  much  care 
and  precaution  ;  but  the  work  went  on  steadily,  simul 
taneously,  and  successfully.  About  the  time  our  assault 
commenced,  the  fire  ceased  from  our  force  in  the  oppo 
site  quarter.  Disengaged  on  the  one  side,  the  enemy 
was  enabled  to  shift  men  and  guns  to  our  quarter,  as 
was  soon  manifested  by  accumulation  of  fire.  At  dark 
we  had  worked  through  the  walls  and  squares,  and 
reached  to  within  one  block  of  the  great  plaza,  leaving 
a  covered  way  in  our  rear — carried  a  large  building 
which  towered  over  the  principal  defences,  and  during 
the  night  and  ensuing  morning,  crowned  its  roof  with 
two  howitzers  and  a  six-pounder.  All  things  were  now 
prepared  to  renew  the  assault  at  dawn  of  day,  when  a 
flag  was  sent  on,  asking  a  momentary  suspension  of 
fire,  which  led  to  the  capitulation  upon  terms  so  honour 
able  to  our  arms. 

As  the  columns  of  attack  were  moving  from  the  palace 


TAYLOR.  Ill 

hill,  Major  Munroe,  chief  of  artillery,  reached  me  with  a 
ten-inch  mortar,  which  was  immediately  advanced 
to  the  plaza,  chapel,  put  in  position  masked  by  the 
church  wall,  its  bed  adjusted  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and 
by  sunset  opened  upon  the  great  square.  At  this  period, 
our  troops  had  worked  to  within  one  square  of  the  plaza  ; 
the  exact  position  of  our  comrades,  on  the  opposite  side, 
was  not  known,  and  the  distance  of  the  position  to  be 
assailed  by  the  bomb  battery,  but  conjecturing  eight 
hundred  yards  was  assumed,  and  the  fuze  and  charge 
regulated  accordingly  ;  the  first  shell  fell  a  little  short  of 
the  point  on  which  it  was  directed,  and  beside  our 
troops  ;  a  slight  increase  of  the  projecting  charge  gave 
exact  results.  The  whole  service  was  managed  by 
Major  Munroe,  most  admirably,  and,  combined  with 
other  operations,  exercised  a  decided  influence  upon  the 
final  results.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  23d,  Major 
Brown's  artillery  battalion,  was  despatched  with  a  select 
command,  and  one  section  of  Mackall's  battery,  under 
Lieutenant  Irons,  to  occupy  the  stone  mill  and  adjacent 
grounds,  constituting,  one  league  in  advance,  the  narrow- 
gorge  near  St.  Catarina.  The  major  took  possession, 
repulsed  the  enemy's  pickets,  and  was  preparing  his 
command  to  resist  any  attack,  when  he  received  my 
orders  to  retrace  his  steps,  enter  the  city,  and  form  the 
main  reserve  to  the  assaulting  columns.  He  came  up  in 
good  time  and  in  good  order,  and  wras  at  once  under  fire. 
On  the  25th,  in  conformity  to  the  articles  of  capitu 
lation,  the  citadel  was  taken  possession  of  by  a  com 
mand  consisting  of  two  companies  of  each  regiment, 
and  one  section  of  each  battery,  2d  division.  General 
Smith  was  directed  to  take  command  of  this  corps,  and 
conduct  the  ceremony ;  which  duty  he  executed  with 
delicacy  to  the  unhappy  and  humiliated  foe. 


112  TAYLOR  ANt>  HIS  GENERALS. 

You  will  receive  lists  of  captured  munitions  of  war, 
lists  of  such  as  were  surrendered  having  already  been 
handed  in.  It  is  a  source  of  high  gratification  that  we 
have  been  able  to  accomplish  such  fortunate  results 
with  so  moderate  a  sacrifice  of  gallant  men.  Annexed 
is  a  return  of  killed  and  wounded,  exhibiting  dates, 
actions,  and  circumstances. 

When  every  officer  and  every  soldier,  regular  and 
volunteer,  has,  through  a  series  of  harrassing  and  severe 
conflicts,  in  the  valley  and  on  the  mountain,  in  the 
street  and  on  the  house-top,  cheerfully,  bravely,  and 
successfully  executed  every  service  and  complied  with 
every  exaction  of  valor  and  patriotism,  the  task  is  as 
difficult  as  delicate,  to  distinguish  individuals ;  and  yet 
it  will  always  happen,  as  it  has  always  happened  in  the 
varied  scenes  of  battle  and  siege,  that  fortune  presents 
to  some  those  opportunities  which  all  would  have  seized 
with  gladness  and  avidity.  It  is  my  pleasing  and  grate 
ful  duty  to  present  to  the  consideration  of  the  general- 
in-chief,  and  through  him  to  the  government,  the  dis 
tinguished  conduct  of  Brigadier-General  Smith,  colonel 
of  rifles,  Brevet  Lieutenant- Colonel  Childs,  artillery 
battalion,  Colonel  Hays,  Texan  riflemen,  Brevet  Cap 
tain  C.  F.  Smith,  2d  artillery,  commanding  light  troops 
first  brigade. 

My  thanks  are  also  especially  due  to  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Stamford,  8th,  (commanding  first  brigade,)  Major  Mun- 
roe,  chief  of  artillery,  (general  staff;)  Brevet-Major 
Brown,  Captain  J.  R.  Vinton,  artillery  battalion ;  Cap 
tain  J.  B.  Scott,  artillery  battalion  light  troops  ;  Major 
Scott,  commanding,  and  Captain  Merrill,  5th  ;  Captains 
Miles,  commanding,  Holmes  and  Ross,  7th  infantry, 
and  Captain  Scriven,  commanding  8th  infantry  ;  to  Lieu. 
tenant-Colonel  Walker,  (captain  rifles,)  Major  Chevalier 


TAYLOR.  113 

and  Captain  McCulloch,  of  the  Texan,  and  Captain 
Blanchard,  Louisiana  volunteers  ;  to  Lieutenants 
Mackall,  (commanding  battery,)  Roland,  Martin,  Hays, 
Irons,  Clarke,  and  Curde,  horse  artillery  ;  Lieutenant 
Longstreet,  commanding  light  company,  8th ;  Lieutenant 
Ayres,  artillery  battalion,  who  was  among  the  first  in  the 
assault  upon  the  Palace,  and  who  secured  the  colours. 
Each  of  the  officers  named,  either  headed  special 
detachments,  columns  of  attack,  storming  parties,  or 
detached  guns,  and  all  was  conspicuous  for  conduct  and 
courage. 

My  attention  has  been  particularly  directed  by  Gene 
ral  Smith,  to  the  gallant  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Gardner, 
7th  infantry,  during  the  assault  upon  the  city  ;  on  which 
occasion  he  threw  himself  in  advance,  and  on  the  most 
exposed  points,  animating  his  men  by  his  brave  exam 
ple.  Particular  attention  has  also  been  called  to  the 
Leutenants  Nicholls',  (brothers)  Louisiana  volunteers, 
as  having  highly  distinguished  themselves  by  personal 
daring  and  efficient  service.  The  officers  of  brigade 
and  regimental  staff,  were  conspicuous  in  the  field,  or 
in  their  particular  departments.  Lieutenants  Hanson, 
(commanding,)  Vanhorn,  aid-de-camp,  7th  ;  Lieutenant 
Robison,  5th,  (quartermaster's  department,)  on  the  staff 
of  General  Smith ;  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  Clark,  8th 
infantry,  staff  1st  brigade  ;  Lieutenant  Benjamin,  adju 
tant  artillery  battalion — Peck,  ordnance  officer,  artillery 
battalion ;  G.  Deas,  adjutant  5th ;  and  Page,  adjutant 
7th  infantry,  are  highly  commended  by  their  respective 
chiefs,  to  the  justness  of  which  I  have  the  pleasure  to 
add  my  personal  observation.  In  common  with  the 
entire  division,  my  particular  thanks  are  tendered  to 
Assistant  Surgeons,  Porter,  (senior,)  Byrne,  Conrad, 
De  Leon,  and  Roberts,  (medical  department,)  who 


114  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

were  ever  at  hand  in  the  close  fight,  promptly  admin 
istering  to  the  wounded  and  suffering  soldier. 

To  the  officers  of  the  staff,  general  and  personal, 
'more  especially  associated  with  myself — Hon.  Colonel 
Balie  Peyton,  Louisiana  troops,  who  did  me  the  honour 
to  ser\7e  as  aid- de-camp ;  Captain  Sanders,  military 
engineers ;  Lieutenant  Meade,  topographical  engineers  ; 
Lieutenants  E.  Deas,  Daniels,  and  Ripley,  quartermas 
ter's  and  commissary's  staff;  and  Lieutenants  Pemberton, 
4th  artillery,  and  Wood,  8th  infantry,  my  aids-de-camp 
— I  have  to  express  the  greatest  obligation.  In  such 
diversified  operations  during  the  three  days  and  nights, 
they  were  constantly  in  motion,  performing  every  exec 
utive  duty,  with  zeal  and  intelligence  only  surpassed  by 
daring  courage  in  conflict.  I  beg  to  commend  each  to 
special  consideration. 

We  have  to  lament  the  gallant  Captains  McKavett, 
8th  infantry,  an  officer  of  high  merit,  killed  on  the  21st, 
and  Gillespie,  Texas  volunteers,  on  the  22d.  The 
latter  eminently  distinguished  himself  while  leading  his 
brave  company  at  the  storming  of  the  first  height,  and 
perished  in  seeking  similar  distinction  on  a  second  occa 
sion  ;  Captain  Gatlin  and  Lieutenant  Potter,  7th,  Lieu 
tenants  Rossell,  5th",  and  Wainwright,  8th  infantry,  and 
Lieutenant  Reece,  Texas  riflemen,  received  honourable, 
happily  not  mortal  wounds. 

The  following  non-commissioned  officers  are  reported 
as  having  highly  distinguished  themselves:  Sergeants 
Hazard,  4th,  and  Dilworth,  3d  artillery;  Quartermaster 
Sergeant  Henry,  7th  infantry ;  Cross,  company  C ; 
Rounds,  Bradford,  (colour  sergeants,)  and  Nogg,  com 
pany  E ;  Bailey,  company  I,  and  Ballard,  7th  infantry. 

In  the  several  conflicts  with  the  division,  the  enemy's 


TAYLOR.  115 

loss  is  ascertained  to  exceed  four  hundred  and  fifty  men, 
four  nine-pounders,  one  twelve-pounder  brass  gun,  one 
twenty-four-pounder  howitzer,  and  two  national  (gar 
rison)  standards  captured. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

W.  J.  WORTH, 
Brevet  Brigadier-  General ;  commanding  2d  division. 

MAJOR  W.  W.  S.  BLISS,  j 

Ass't  Adj.  Gen.  Array  of  Occupation.  ) 

The  following  series  of  letters  in  a  journalized  form 
from  Mr.  Haile,  a  correspondent  of  the  New  Orleans 
Picayune,  who  was  present  with  General  Worth's  divi 
sion  of  the  army,  we  have  selected  from  an  immense 
mass  of  similar  documents,  as  presenting  the  most  lively, 
graphic,  and  minute  account  of  this  splendid  siege, 
which  has  yet  appeared.  At  the  risk  of  some  repetition 
we  give  it  complete. 

- 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  MEXICO,  Sept.  18,  1846. 

GENTLEMEN  :  Wre  are,  at  length,  within  five  hours 
march  of  Monterey,  say  twelve  miles  distant.  ***** 
The  habitual  order  of  battle  is  to  be  as  follows: — 
"1st  division  on  the  right,  the  2d  on  the  left,  and  the 
volunteer  division  in  the  centre,"  the  chiefs  of  divisions 
to  organize  such  reserves  as  they  might  judge  proper. 
This  order  of  battle  not  to  be  considered  invariable',  but 
to  be  controlled  by  the  nature  of  the  ground.  Four 
men  from  Gillespie's  company  were  attached  to  each  of 
the  two  (2d  and  volunteer)  divisions. 

Everything  connected  \vith  this  day's  march  has  been 
intensely  interesting  to  all,  and  novel  to  many.  The 


116  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

troops  marched  in  close  columns,  and  were  always  held 
in  readiness  to  act  promptly.  The  column,  embracing 
the  trains,  reached  nearly  or  quite  three  miles.  It  was 
a  grand  sight,  and  so  much  did  the  men  feel  interested 
in  coming  events,  that  every  one  went  at  it  in  a  business 
manner,  and,  although  it  had  been  hot  and  dusty,  not 
half  a  dozen  out  of  nearly  six  thousand  five  hundred 
have  given  in  to-day  on  the  march.  We  have  forded  a 
number  of  streams  to-day,  commencing  near  Marin,  with 
the  San  Juan,  which  was  nearly  waist  deep.  Of  course, 
we  are  now  in  the  midst  of  the  mountains,  but  so  imper 
ceptibly  have  we  ascended  what  appeared  like  moun 
tains,  this  morning,  that  we  now  seem  to  be  on  a  great 
plain,  with  mountains  rising  into  peaks  in  every  direc 
tion  around  us.  Our  road  has  been  through  a  richer 
region  since  leaving  Marin,  than  any  I  have  seen  since 
leaving  the  Rio  Grande.  We  passed  two  or  three  large 
haciendas,  where  sugar-cane  is  cultivated  to  a  considera 
ble  extent,  and  the  second  corn  crops  are  in  a  flourish 
ing  state.  All  these  plantations  are  irrigated  from  the 
mountain  streams. 

Well,  to-morrow  evening  or  next  day  morning,  we 
shall  have  seen  the  question  decided,  with  regard  to  the 
strength  of  Monterey.  Information  came  into  camp 
from  Monterey,  last  evening,  which  Mr.  Kendall  for 
warded  to  you.  This  evening  the  report  is,  that  there 
are  8000  (one  report  says  15,000)  troops  there,  and  that 
the  city  is  surrounded  by  a  ditch  and  breastworks,  and 
the  streets  are  all  fortified. 

How  do  the  troops  act  on  the  eve  of  an  expected  bat-  t 
tie  ?     Only  that  they  are  a  little  more  precise  in  the  per 
formance  of  their  duties — a  little  more  careful  in  arrang 
ing  their  arms  and  knapsacks  to  be  in  readiness  for  an 
instant's  notice — and  a  little  more  careful  to  procure  rest 


TAYLOR.  117 

while  they  may — I  see  no  change  in  their  demeanour. 
The  only  conversation  is  how  they  will  probably  go  to 
work  to  take  the  city,  should  resistance  be  offered.  It 
is  the  settled  belief  that  the  Mexicans  will  fight,  and  it 
is  also  believed  that  many  lives  will  be  sacrificed  on  both 
sides.  I  predict  that,  on  their  retreat,  the  army  will  be 
awfully  cut  up.  About  twelve  hundred  Texan  horse 
men  are  now  writh  us,  and  they  are  desirous  of  paying 
off  old  scores.  In  taking  the  town  they  cannot  engage 
very  actively,  but  in  overtaking  the  retreating  troops  they 
will  be  active  and  destructive. 

Nine  o'clock,  P.  M. — The  impression  of  those  who 
ought  best  to  know,  is  still,  that  the  troops  at  Monterey 
will  resist.  Our  troops  will  be  greatly  disappointed  if 
no  resistance  is  offered  them.  They  have  come  a  long 
distance  to  seek  a  fight.  I  was  amused  at  a  remark 
made  by  Colonel  Persifor  F.  Smith,  when  asked  what  he 
thought  of  the  probabilities  of  a  battle.  "  I  never  knew 
a  man  to  seek  perse veringly  for  a  thing  a  long  time,  but 
what  he  found  it,"  replied  he  ;  "  and  General  Taylor  will 
not,  I  think,  seek  in  vain  for  another  set-to  with  the 
Mexicans."  One  thing  is  certain,  the  enemy  has  been 
at  a  heavy  expense  to  fortify  Monterey,  and  if  we  do 
not  find  out  before  to-morrow  night  at  this  time,  that 
they  do  not  intend  to  expend  their  money  and  labour  for 
nothing,  I  shall  then  be  satisfied  that  there  is  no  spirit 
left  among  them.  Two  hundred  Mexican  troops  left 
this  place  this  morning,  after  ill-treating  and  pillaging 
the  inhabitants  as  usual.  But  these  people  are  singular 
beings,  and  very  ungrateful.  In  Mann,- where  Torre- 
jon's  troops  had,  a  day  or  two  before,  robbed,  whipped, 
and  insulted  the  citizens,  I  saw  a  family  selling  muscal 
to  the  Americans  for  two  dollars  a  bottle,  and  at  the 
same  time  selling  it  to  Mexicans  at  four  bits  per  bottle. 


118  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

We  march  to-morrow  at  six  o'clock,  to  encamp  three 
miles  from  Monterey. 

CAMP  BEFORE  MONTEREY,  j 
September  18.  at  12  o'clock.  M.  \ 

Well,  "the  ball  has  opened!"  When  within  four 
miles  of  the  city,  we  heard  a  brisk  cannonading  in  that 
direction.  On  arriving  here  we  learn  that  General  Tay 
lor,  with  a  detachment  of  dragoons  and  the  Texan 
rangers,  advanced  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the 
city,  when  the  enemy  opened  upon  them  with  twelve- 
pounders.  The  first  ball  came  within  about  ten  yards 
of  the  general.  Some  twenty-five  or  thirty  shot  were 
fired  at  the  dragoons  and  rangers,  passing  through  their 
lines,  but  hurting  neither  man  nor  horse.  A  picket  of 
260  Mexican  cavalry  appeared  on  the  plain  when  our 
advance  first  approached,  and  after  firing  a  volley  or  two 
with  their  escopettes,  retired  into  the  city.  Bishop's 
hill  is  strongly  fortified,  and  they  hard  at  work  on  a 
height  commanding  that  place.  So  to-night  or  early  in 
the  morning  we  will  probably  have  hot  work.  Thev 
will  fight,  now,  beyond  a  doubt. 

CAMP  BEFORE  MONTEREY,  ) 
September  19.  1846.  ( 

Gentlemen :  This  has  been  a  day  of  excitement  and 
interest  to  our  isolated  little  army.  The  general  left  the 
camp  at  San  Francisco  this  morning  at  sunrise,  and  by 
eight  o'clock  the  whole  column  was  in  motion,  the 
Texan  rangers,  and  Colonel  May  with  a  squadron  of 
dragoons,  in  advance.  The  men  started  off  briskly,  and 
the  road  was  fine.  After  two  hours'  march  a  bridge  was 
found  broken  up  by  the  Mexicans.  A  corn-field  near 
at  hand  afforded  materials  for  filling  up  the  place,  and 
the  army  proceeded  over  the  first  corn-stalk  bridge  I 


TAYLOtt.  119 

ever  heard  of.  When  within  about  four  or  five  miles  of 
the  city  we  heard  a  brisk  cannonading.  Some  of  the 
men  had  just  previous  to  this  begun  to  lag,  some  suf 
fered  from  blistered  feet,  and  others  from  the  intensity  of 
the  heat,  but  no  sooner  did  the  sound  of  cannon  reach 
their  ears,  than  they  straightened  themselves  up  and 
pressed  forward  with  an  eagerness  which  showed  that 
their  sufferings  were  all  forgotten.  Captain  Scott  (the 
veritable),  or  rather  now  Major  Scott,  who  commands 
the  5th  infantry,  marched  immediately  before  us,  and  the 
moment  the  brave  old  soldier  heard  the  enemy's  cannon, 
he  drove  his  spurs  into  his  horse  and  pranced  about  his 
regiment  as  if  he  would  give  a  liberal  portion  of  his  life 
to  be  at  Monterey. 

Captain  Miles,  commander  of  the  7th  infantry,  by 
whose  side  I  was  riding  at  the  moment,  likewise  rose  in 
his  stirrups,  with  his  keen  black  eyes  sparkling,  and  his 
nostrils  slightly  dilated,  and  gave  orders  to  his  regiment 
to  close  up ;  but  his  orders  were  useless,  for  the  noble 
fellows  were  already  pressing  upon  the  staff,  to  the  very 
rumps  of  the  horses.  Again,  again  and  again,  the  noise 
of  the  twelve-pounders  reverberated  through  the  lofty 
mountains  which  rose  before  us  and  upon  each  side,  and 
a  buzz,  a  suppressed  hurra,  ran  through  the  line.  The 
officers  ran  their  eyes  over  their  commands  with  looks  of 
pride  and  confidence,  and  the  men  returned  the  glance, 
as  if  to  say  "we  are  ready,"  and  pressed  on  still  more 
eagerly.  I  rode  out  of  the  column  and  fell  back  to  look 
at  the  Louisiana  boys.  Every  eye  among  them  was 
bright  with  eager  excitement.  Captain  Blanchard,  and 
Lieutenants  Tenbrink  and  the  two  brothers  Nicholls, 
wore  a  peculiar  smile  upon  their  countenances,  an  ex 
pression  that  I  shall  never  forget.  I  translated  its  mean 
ing  thus :  "  Now  we  are  about  to  be  rewarded  for  all 
6 


120  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

sacrifices  ana  toils,  and  we  will  show  old  Louisiana  that 
we  can  represent  her  worthily,  though  our  numbers  are 
small."  They  regretted  the  absence  of  their  fellow-citi 
zens  who  had  returned  to  their  quiet  homes,  for  they 
well  knew  how  many  a  brave  heart  would  burn  with 
bitter  disappointment  and  laudable  envy,  could  their  re 
turned  friends  but  see  them  and  know  their  feelings  at 
that  moment. 

On  reaching  the  place  of  encampment,  we  came  up 
with  General  Worth,  riding  his  horse  in  beautiful  style. 
A  handsomer  officer  than  he  appeared  then,  I  never  saw. 
Every  one  marked  the  change  that  had  suddenly  come 
over  him.  From  the  somewhat  dejected  air,  and  sad 
dened  countenance  that  he  is  said  to  have  worn  of  late, 
Richard  was  now  himself  again — and  the  gallant  soldier, 
forgetting  all  his  cares,  now  appeared  before  us,  the  per 
sonification  of  an  accomplished  military  chieftain.  His 
handsome  face  was  lighted  up  with  a  proud,  but  affable 
smile,  as  he  motioned  gracefully  to  his  officers,  pointing 
out  to  them  the  direction  they  were  to  take  with  their 
respective  commands,  and  not  a  man  who  saw  him,  but 
what  would  at  that  moment  have  followed  him  to  the 
cannon's  mouth. 

Such  is  the  feeling  manifested  by  the  whole  army — 
which  renders  this  body  of  men  invincible. 

This  evening  the  enemy's  batteries  have  been  opened 
again  upon  a  reconnoiteriqg  party  of  ours.  Generals 
Taylor,  Worth,  Twiggs,  and  others,  have  been  out, 
looking  at  their  works. 

Nine  o'clock,  P.  M. — An  attack  is  expected,  and  every 
man  in  the  army  will  rest  to-night  on  his  arms.  A  night 
attack  is  what  a  soldier  dislikes  very  much,  because  it  is 
then  difficult  to  distinguish  friend  from  foe. 

September  20th. — Everything  remained  quiet  last  night. 


TAYLOR.  121 

To-morrow  an  attempt  will  be  made  to  take  Monterey. 
A  stout  resistance  is  expected,  for  the  town  is  strongly 
fortified,  as  well  as  the  heights  that  command  it,  and  the 
enemy  has  troops  and  ammunition  enough  there  to  de 
fend  it.  A  movement  will  no  doubt  be  made  to-night. 
No  one  expects  an  easy  victory,  on  the  other  hand,  all 
have  made  up  their  minds  to  see  much  bloodshed.  It 
is  believed  that  a  large  number  of  the  enemy  is  in  our 
rear — in  fact  there  is  little  doubt  on  the  subject. 

BISHOP'S  PALACE,      ) 
Monterey,  Mexico.  Sept.  24.  j 

GENTLEMEN  :  This  is  the  fourth  day  since  the  battle 
of  Monterey  commenced.  On  the  20th  at  noon,  Gene 
ral  Worth  marched  from  the  camp  east  of  the  town  in  the 
direction  of  the  heights  west  of  the  town,  McCullough's 
and  Gillespie's  companies  of  rangers  forming  the  recon- 
noitering  party.  At  night  the  division  bivouacked  almost 
within  range  of  the  guns  stationed  upon  the  highest  point 
of  the  hill,  on  which  the  Bishop's  Palace  is  situated. 
At  daylight  of  the  21st,  the  column  was  again  in  motion, 
and  in  a  few  moments  was  turning  the  point  of  a  ridge 
which  protruded  out  towards  the  enemy's  guns,  bringing 
us  as  near  to  them  as  their  gunners  could  desire.  They 
immediately  opened  upon  the  column  with  a  howitzer 
and  twrelve-pounder,  firing  shell  and  round  shot  as  fast 
as  they  could  discharge  their  pieces. 

The  road  now  wound  in  towards  a  gorge,  but  not  far 
enough  to  be  out  of  range  of  their  guns,  which  still 
played  upon  us.  Another  ridge  lay  about  three-fourths 
of  a  mile  beyond  the  first,  around  the  termination  of 
which  the  road  wound,  bringing  it  under  the  lofty  sum 
mit  of  a  height  which  rises  between  Palace  Hill  and  the 
mountains  which  arise  over  us  on  the  west.  When  the 
head  of  the  column  approached  this  ridge,  a  body  of 


122  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

Mexican  cavalry  carne  dashing  around  the  point  to  charge 
upon  our  advance.  Captain  Gillespie  immediately 
ordered  his  men  to  dismount  and  place  themselves  in 
ambush.  The  enemy  evidently  did  not  perceive  this 
manoeuvre,  but  the  moment  they  came  up,  the  Texans 
opened  on  them  a  most  effective  fire,  unsaddling  a  num 
ber  of  them.  McCullough's  company  now  dashed  into 
them — Captain  C.  F.  Smith's  camp,  and  Captain  Scott's 
camp  of  artillery,  (acting  as  infantry,)  and  Lieutenant 
Longstreet's  company  of  the  8th  infantry,  with  another 
company  of  the  same  regiment,  likewise  charged  upon 
the  enemy.  The  Texan  horsemen  were  soon  engaged 
with  them  in  a  sort  of  hand-to-hand  skirmish,  in  which 
a  number  of  the  enemy  fell,  and  one  Texan  was  killed 
and  two  wrounded. 

Colonel  Duncan  now  opened  upon  them  with  his 
battery  of  light  artillery,  pouring  a  few  discharges  of 
grape  among  them,  and  scattering  them  like  chaff. 
Several  men  and  horses  fell  under  this  destructive  fire. 
I  saw  one  horse  and  rider  bound  some  feet  into  the  air, 
and  both  fell  dead  and  tumbled  down  the  steep.  The 
foot  companies  above  named  then  rushed  up  the  steep 
and  fired  over  the  ridge  at  the  retreating  enemy,  a  con 
siderable  body  of  whom  were  concealed  from  our  view, 
around  the  point  of  the  hill.  About  thirty  of  the 
enemy  were  killed  in  this  skirmish,  and  among  them  a 
captain,  who,  with  two  or  three  others,  fell  in  the  road. 
The  captain  was  wounded  in  three  places,  the  last  shot 
hitting  him  in  the  forehead.  He  fought  gallantly  to  the 
last,  and  I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  learn  his  name. 

The  light  batteries,  one  of  which  is  commanded  by 
Lieutenant  Mackall,  were  now  driven  up  on  the  slope 
of  the  ridge,  and  the  howitzers  opened  upon  the  height 
of  Palace  Hill.  A  few  shells  only  were  thrown  before 


TAYLOR.  123 

the  enemy  commenced  firing  with  a  nine-pounder  from 
the  height  immediately  over  the  right  of  the  column, 
aiming  at  Duncan's  batteries.  The  several  regiments 
took  positions,  and  a  few  more  shells  were  thrown 
towards  Palace  Hill,  but  did  no  execution.  The  nine- 
pounder  continued  to  throw  its  shot,  with  great  pre 
cision,  at  our  batteries,  one  ball  falling  directly  in  the 
midst  of  the  pieces,  but  fortunately  hitting  neither  men 
nor  guns.  Finding  his  batteries  thus  exposed,  and 
unable  to  effect  anything,  Colonel  Duncan  removed  his 
command  to  a  rancho  about  half  a  mile  farther  up  the 
Saltillo  road,  where  General  Worth  took  up  his  position, 
after  ordering  the  foot  regiments  to  form  along  the  fence, 
near  the  point  of  the  ridge.  The  artillery  battalion, 
Oth,  7th,  and  8th  infantry,  and  the  Louisiana  volunteers, 
remained  in  this  position  about  two  hours,  directly  under 
the  fire  of  the  enemy's  guns,  (now  two.)  The  balls  fell 
directly  in  their  midst  all  this  time  without  wounding  a 
man !  To  begin  with,  the  Mexicans  manage  their 
artillery  in  battery  as  well  as  the  Americans  do — this,  I 
believe,  is  now  conceded  by  every  officer. 

At  half-past  ten  the  column  moved  towards  the 
general's  position.  At  this  time,  Captain  McKavett, 
of  the  8th  infantry,  was  shot  through  the  heart  by  a 
nine-pound  ball,  and  a  private  of  the  Oth  infantry  was 
severely  wounded  in  the  thigh,  and  he  died  the  n.ext 
morning.  About  fifty  Mexicans  now  appeared  upon 
the  side  hill,  over  the  moving  column,  and  fired  at 
our  troops  some  hundred  musket  shot,  without  doing 
any  harm.  The  division  deployed  into  the  position 
pointed  out,  and  remained  an  hour  or  two,  when  Cap 
tain  C.  F.  Smith  of  the  artillery  battalion,  with  two 
companies  (his  own  and  Captain  Scott's),  and  four  com 
panies  of  Texas  rangers  on  foot,  were  ordered  to  storm 


124  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

the  second  height.  This  the  gallant  officer  cheerfully 
undertook,  and  was  followed  with  enthusiasm  by  the 
officers  and  men  of  his  command.  It  was  considered 
on  all  sides  to  be  a  dangerous  undertaking,  and  his 
party  was  considered  most  emphatically  a  forlorn  hope. 
That  the  height  would  be  taken,  no  one  doubted,  but 
that  many  brave  fellows  would  fall  in  the  attempt, 
seemed  inevitable.  The  distance  to  be  climbed  after 
reaching  the  foot  of  the  hill,  was  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile :  a  part  of  the  way  was  almost  perpendicular  and 
through  thorn  bushes  and  over  sharp  pointed  rocks  and 
loose  sliding  stones. 

The  7th  infantry,  commanded  by  Captain  Miles,  was 
ordered  to  support  Captain  Smith's  party,  and  by 
marching  directly  to  the  foot  of  the  height,  arrived 
before  Captain  Smith,  who  had  been  ordered  to  take  a 
circuitous  route.  Captain  Miles  sent  up  Lieutenant 
Gantt  with  a  detachment  of  men,  upon  the  hill  side,  to 
divert  the  attention  of  the  enemy  from  Captain  Smith's 
command,  which  could  not  yet  be  seen.  The  7th  had 
already  sustained  a  heavy  fire  of  grape  and  round  shot, 
HS  they  forded  the  San  Juan,  which  winds  around  the 
foot  of  the  height,  which  fell  like  a  shower  of  hail  in 
their  ranks,  without  killing  a  man.  Lieutenant  Gantt's 
party  were  greeted  with  grape  and  round  shot,  which 
cut  the  shrubs  and  tore  up  the  loose  stones  in  the  ranks 
without  killing  any  one ;  but  the  gallant  young  officer 
came  within  an  inch  of  being  killed  by  a  cannon-ball, 
which  ran  down  the  steep  and  filled  his  face  with  frag 
ments  of  rock,  dust  and  gravel.  The  fire  was  accom 
panied  by  a  constant  discharge  of  musketry,  the  enemy 
covering  the  upper  part  of  the  hill  side,  but  the 
detachment  continued  to  move  up,  driving  the  Mexicans 
back,  until  they  were  recalled. 


TAYLOR.  125 

Captain  Smith's  party  now  arrived  and  moved  up  the 
hill,  the  rangers  in  advance,  and  did  not  halt  for  an 
instant  until  the  Mexicans  were  driven  from  the  summit. 
Whilst  this  was  going  on,  Colonel  Persifor  F.  Smith, 
who  commanded  the  5th  and  7th  infantry — the  5th,  with 
Blanchard's  Louisiana  boys,  under  Major  Martin  Scott, 
had  been  ordered  to  support  the  whole — gave  orders  for 
these  commands  to  pass  around  on  each  side  and  storm 
the  fort,  which  was  situated  about  half  a  mile  back  of 
the  summit  on  the  same  ridge,  and  commanded  the 
Bishop's  Palace.  Such  a  foot  race  as  now  ensued, 
has  seldom,  if  ever,  been  seen ;  the  Louisiana  boys  ma 
king  tremendous  strides  to  be  in  with  the  foremost. 
Captain  Smith  had  the  gun  which  he  took  upon  the 
height,  run  down  towards  the  breastworks  and  fired  into 
it.  Then  came  Colonel  P.  ¥.  Smith's  men,  with  a  per 
fect  rush,  firing  and  cheering — the  5th  and  7th,  and 
Louisianians  reaching  the  ridge  above  nearly  at  the  same 
time. 

The  Mexicans  fired  at  them  with  grape,  but  it  did  not 
save  them,  or  cause  an  instant's  hesitation  in  our  ranks. 
Our  men  run,  and  fired,  and  cheered,  until  they  reached 
the  work,  the  foremost  entering  at  one  end,  whilst  the' 
Mexicans,  about  1000  in  number,  left  the  other  in  retreat. 
The  colours  of  the  5th  infantry  were  instantly  raised, 
and  scarcely  were  they  up  before  those  of  the  7th  were 
alongside.  The  three  commands  entered  the  fort,  to 
gether,  so  close  was  the  race — the  5th,  however,  getting 
an  advance,  were  in  first.  J.  W.  Miller,  of  Blanchard's 
company,  was  among  the  first  four  or  five  who  entered. 
The  three  commands  may  be  said  to  have  come  out  even 
in  the  race,  for  the  7th  was  not  five  seconds  behind.  In 
less  than  five  minutes  the  gun  found  in  the  fort  was 
thundering  away  at  the  Bishop's  Palace ! 


126  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

More  aminvmition  was  found  than  our  troops  will  use, 
with  the  three  guns  which  were  captured.  One  of  the 
guns  was  found  concealed.  They  are  nine  pound  brass 
pieces.  Several  mules  and  half  a  dozen  beautiful  tents 
were  likewise  captured.  Killed,  none.  Wounded,  in 
7th  infantry,  Lieutenant  Potter,  bullet  through  the  calf 
of  the  leg;  Orderly-Sergeant  Hurdle,  of  Company  K; 
Corporal  S.  P.  Oakley,  seriously,  in  the  thigh.  Corpo 
ral  Oakley  is  from  New  York  city,  and  a  very  intelligent, 
\vell-educated  man,  as  well  as  a  good  soldier.  Private 
White — the  same  who  captured  the  Mexican  officer's 
trunk  at  Marin,  and  who  received  it  and  its  contents 
from  General  Taylor — wounded  in  the  head.  Fifth  in 
fantry,  killed,  none ;  wounded — Lieutenant  Russell,  in 
the  arm  ;  Sergeant  Major  Brand,  badly,  in  the  mouth, 
with  musket  ball.  Privates  McManus  and  Grubb, 
slightly  wounded — Sergeant  Uptergraph,  colour-bearer, 
distinguished  himself  by  his  gallantry.- :;*rl 

Thus  was  this  brilliant  coup  de  main  made  almost 
without  bloodshed.  I  have  not  time  to  give  the  particu 
lars  of  this  glorious  affair.  Captain  C.  F.  Smith,  was 
in  the  advance,  with  M'Call,  at  the  battle  of  Resaca  de 
la  Palma,  and  is  one  of  the  most  gallant  and  accom 
plished  officers  in  the  army- — so  say  all  his  fellow  officers 
whom  I  have  heard  speak  of  him.  Colonel  P.  F. 
Smith — General  Smith,  of  Louisiana — distinguished  him 
self  on  that  occasion,  as  did  Major  Scott  and  Captain 
Miles,  and,  in  truth,  every  officer  and  man  did  his  duty 
nobly. 

The  gallant  conduct  of  Captain  Blanchard  and  Lieu 
tenant  'Tenbrink,  and  the  two  brothers  Nicholls,  are 
praised  by  all  the  officers  who  were  there.  In  truth, 
the  Louisiana  boys  have-  fought  every  day  for  four  days, 
and  I  assure  you,  as  General  WTorth\s  report  will  bear 


TAYLOR.  127 

me  out  in  saying,  and  as  every  officer  in  the  2d  division 
will  testify,  that  this  corps  has  distinguished  itself  OB 
every  occasion  where  they  have  been  called  on.  Tht 
sons  of  Judge  Nicholls,  of  Donaldsonville,  have  stood 
fire  four  or  five  hours  at  a  time,  driving  the  enemy — 
under  their  battery — from  bush  to  bush,  and  rock  to 
rock,  and  at  last  were  among  the  foremost  to  rush  into 
the  Bishop's  Palace  and  take  it  by  storm.  Captain 
Blanchard  and  his  company  have  already  made  a  repu 
tation  that  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  S.  G.  Allen,  pri 
vate  of  this  company,  was  mortally  wounded  in  this 
fight,  and  died  next  morning.  Captain  Smith  had  no 
one  killed  or  wounded  in  his  party  of  regulars — two 
Texans  were  wounded,  viz :  William  Carley  and  B.  F. 
Keese.  H. 

BISHOP'S  PALACE,  MONTEREY,  ) 
September  24,  1846.  ( 

GENTLEMEN  :  I  date  both  my  letters  on  one  day,  be 
cause  I  am  obliged  to  foot  up  the  news  of  the  last  four 
days,  having  had  no  writing  materials  along.  Even 
now,  though  I  write  in  a  palace,  I  am  obliged  to  hold 
the  sheet  of  paper  in  one  hand  on  my  knee,  for  want  of 
a  desk.  But  I  have  no  time  for  extra  remarks — a 
chance  offers  to  send  you  the  news,  and  I  must  hurry  to 
give  you  a  glance  at  what  has  been  done  here,  before  the 
express  goes  off.  On  the  morning  of  the  21st,  Colonel 
Childs,  of  the  artillery  battalion,  with  three  of  his  com 
panies — one  commanded  by  Captain  Vinton,  another  by 
Captain  J.  B.  Scott,  and  the  third  by  Lieutenant  Ayres, 
and  three  companies  of  the  8th  infantry — company  A, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Longstreet  and  Lieutenant 
Wainright ;  company  B,  Lieutenant  Holloway  com 
manding,  and  Lieutenant  Merchant ;  company  D,  Cap 


128  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

tain  Scrivner  and  Lieutenant  Montgomery — was  ordered 
to  take  the  summit  of  Palace  Hill. 

The  colonel  left  the  camp  at  three  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and 
climbed  the  mountain  through  the  chapparal  and  up  the 
steep  rocks,  with  such  secrecy,  that  at  daybreak  he  was 
within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  breastwork  of  sand-bags 
before  he  was  discovered.  Three  of  the  artillerymen, 
having  rushed  ahead  too  fast,  found  themselves  in  the 
hands  of  the  Mexicans.  They  surrendered :  the  Mexi 
cans  took  their  muskets,  and  shot  them  down  with  the 
very  pieces  they  had  given  up.  I  saw  the  poor  fellows 
lying  there. 

I  have  but  a  few  moments  left  to  write  in,  and  must 
therefore  defer  the  particulars  of  the  storming  of  the 
palace  until  I  have  more  time.  Colonel  Staniford  went 
up  at  daylight  with  the  balance  of  the  8th,  and  Major 
Scott  led  up  the  5th.  The  Louisiana  boys  were  on  the 
hill  with  the  5th,  at  eight  o'clock,  A.  M.  One  of  Dun 
can's  howitzers,  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  .Rowland,  was 
dragged  up,  or  rather  lifted  up,  and  opened  on  the 
palace,  which  was  filled  with  troops.  The  Mexicans 
charged  on  the  howitzer,  but  were  driven  back.  A  con 
stant  firing  was  kept  up  for  several  hours,  particularly  by 
Blanchard's  men,  who  left  a  dozen  Mexicans  dead  upon 
the  hill-side.  At  length  a  charge  was  ordered,  and  our 
men  rushed  down  upon  the  palace,  entered  a  hole  in  a 
door  that  had  been  blocked  up,  but  opened  by  the  how 
itzer,  and  soon  cleared  the  work  of  the  few  Mexicans 
who  remained.  Lieutenant  Ayres  was  the  lucky  one 
who  first  reached  the  halyards  and  lowered  the  flag. 
One  eighteen-pound  brass  piece,  a  beautiful  article, 
manufactured  in  Liverpool  in  1842,  and  a  short  brass 
twelve-pound  howitzer,  were  captured,  with  a  large 
quantity  of  ammunition,  and  some  muskets  and  lances. 


TAYLOR. 

The  fort  adjoining  the  palace  walls  is  not  complete, 
but  is  very  neatly  constructed,  as  far  as  it  is  built.  The 
killed  on  our  side,  in  taking  the  palace,  were  seven — 
wounded,  twelve.  Lieutenant  Wainwright  was  wound 
ed  in  the  side  and  arm  by  a  musket-ball,  but  will  soon 
recover,  it  is  hoped.  Mr.  John  Francis,  of  New  Orleans, 
belonging  to  Blanchard's  company,  was  killed.  Colonel 
Childs,  Captain  Vinton,  Captain  Blanchard,  Lieutenant 
Longstreet,  Lieutenant  Clark  (adjutant  of  the  8th),  Lieu 
tenant  Ayres,  Lieutenant  McCown,  and  the  two  Nicholls, 
seem  to  have  been  the  heroes  of  the  day.  The  two  latter 
performed  prodigies,  and  not  only  Judge  Nicholls, 
but  old  Louisiana  may  well  be  proud  of  such  sons.  The 
Mexicans  lost  at  least  thirty  killed — twenty-one  had  been 
buried  this  morning,  and  I  have  seen  a  number  lying  on 
the  hill-side,  that  were  riot  discovered  by  our  men  when 
they  brought  in  the  dead. 

Yesterday  morning  the  whole  division  under  General 
Worth  entered  the  town  on  this  side,  and  have  been 
fighting  there  ever  since.  The  heart  of  the  city  is  no 
thing  but  one  fortification,  the  thick  walls  being  pierced 
for  muskets  and  cannon,  and  placed  so  as  to  rake  the 
principal  streets.  The  roofs  being  flat,  and  the  front 
walls  rising  three  or  four  feet  above  the  roof,  of  course 
every  street  has  a  line  of  breastworks  on  each  side.  A 
ten-inch  mortar  came  around  from  General  Taylor  last 
evening,  and  it  is  now  placed  in  the  largest  plaza,  to 
which  our  troops  have  fought  step  by  step,  and  from  house 
to  house.  Duncan's  batteries  are  in  town,  and  the  present 
impression  is  that  the  place  will  soon  be  taken.  General 
Worth  has  gained  all  the  strongholds  that  command  the 
city,  and  has  pushed  the  enemy  as  far  as  they  can  go 
without  falling  into  General  Taylor's  hands  on  the  other 


130  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

side  of  the  city.     All  this  has  been  done  with  the  loss 
of  only  about  seventy  killed  and  wounded. 

The  achievement  is  a  glorious  one — sufficient  to  sa 
tisfy  the  ambition  of  any  man  on  earth.  I  was  expect 
ing  to  see  General  Worth  rushing  his  men  into  unne 
cessary  danger,  in  order  to  win  for  them  and  himself 
great  military  fame,  but  his  conduct  has  been  very  dif 
ferent  from  this.  His  great  study  has  been  to  gain  these 
commanding  points  with  the  least  possible  sacrifice  of 
life.  At  first  it  seemed  totally  impossible  to  storm  these 
heights — it  looked  like  charging  upon  the  clouds — but 
it  has  been  done.  The  Bishop's  Palace,  which  is  as 
strong  as  it  has  been  represented  to  be,  has  been  stormed 
and  taken  by  our  brave  soldiers.  I  should  have  stated 
that  Colonel  Hays,  with  a  body  of  his  troops,  and  Cap 
tains  Gillespie  and  McCulloch,  were  at  the  taking  of  the 
palace.  Captain  Gillespie  was  mortally  wounded,  and 
died  yesterday  morning,  regretted  by  the  whole  army. 

I  cannot  keep  up,  at  all,  with  the  rangers.  Their 
services  have  been  invaluable  to  General  Taylor,  from 
the  commencement  of  the  campaign.  They  light  with 
all  the  steadiness  of  old  soldiers — and  are  constantly  on 
the  move.  The  country  owes  them  much  for  their 
noble  conduct.  I  say  nothing,  as  yet.  about  General' 
Taylor's  proceedings  on  the  other  side  of  the  town,  be 
cause  the  information  I  have  received  is  not  well  authen 
ticated.  Mr.  Kendall  and  I  both  came  out  with  this 
division,  neither  knowing  that  the  other  wras  coming 
with  it,  until  it  was  too  late  to  return,  and  there  is  no 
communication  between  the  divisions  except  by  armed 
bodies  of  men.  The  general  has,  however,  taken  three 
batteries  near  the  town  on  the  other  side,  in  doing  which 
he  has  lost  about  three  hundred  men,  killed  and  wounded  ! 
I  do  not  know  the  exact  number  killer),  but  will  he  able 


TAYLOR.  .133 

to  ascertain  before  this  letter  goes — and  will  try  to  give 
other  particulars. 

General  Taylor  has  arrived  at  General  Worth's  head 
quarters  to-day,  and  is  now  engaged  in  town  with  Am- 
pudia's  messengers  considering  the  enemy's  proposals  for 
surrendering  the  town  and  the  large  fort  at  the  north-east 
side  of  it.  That  fort  is  very  strong,  and  is  believed  to 
contain  at  least  twenty  guns.  Hostilities  have  ceased 
until  the  conference  shall  be  concluded.  There  must  be 
an  immense  quantity  of  property  in  town,  particularly 
arms  and  ammunition. 

I  should  have  mentioned  that  the  2d  division  marched 
from  camp  with  only  two  days'  rations,  and  no  tents. 
A  large  majority  of  the  officers,  and  many  of  the  men, 
worked  and  climbed  mountains,  chased  the  enemy,  and 
fought  forty-eight  hours,  with  nothing  to  eat  but  raw 
corn.  Much  of  the  two  days'  rations  were  spoiled  by 
the  rains,  and  as  the  troops  were  frequently  ordered  off 
at  an  instant's  notice,  they  left  their  haversacks  behind. 

There  have  been  from  ten  to  fifteen  thousand  troops 
at  this  place  ever  since  we  have  been  here,  but  they  are 
leaking  out,  in  citizen's  clothes,  as  fast  as  they  can 
dodge  off.  As  soldiers,  there  is  no  escape  for  them.  H. 

MONTEREY,  MEXICO,  September  25,  1846. 
GENTLEMEN  :  The  city  has  capitulated  on  the  follow 
ing  terms.  (Terms  stated  page  138).  Many  persons, 
particularly  the  Texan  volunteers,  who  fought  so  bravely, 
are  displeased  at  these  terms.  The  town  was  all  but  in  our 
hands,  and,  could  they  be  believed,  would  have  been  taken 
in  three  hours.  I  believe  that  it  would  have  required 
much  more  hard  fighting  to  have  taken  it,  but  this  was  not 
the  question  with  General  Taylor.  He  and  his  officers 
knew  perfectly  well,  of  course,  that  the  town  could  soon 


TAYLOR  AXD  HIS  GENERALS. 


be  taken,  but  he  wanted  no  prisoners  to  take  up  his  time 
and  eat  up  his  substance :  but  he  did  have  an  object  in 
view  which  will  be  reached  by  the  terms  of  this  capitu 
lation,  and  that  object  in  view  will  lead  to  a  result  most 
beneficial  to  our  government,  under  whose  advice  or 
order  General  Taylor  acted  in  agreeing  to  these  terms. 
As  I  have  a  few  moments  to  spare  before  the  express  goes 
out  this  morning  (he  was  detained  last  night  by  the  slow 
progress  of  business  with  Ampudia),  I  will  speak  of  the 
operations  of  General  Taylor  on  his  side  of  the  town. 

Major  Mansfield,  of  the  Engineers,  reconnoitered  the 
enemy's  works  on  the  night  of  the  19th,  but  could  obtain 
no  very  accurate  information,  although  he  approached 
very  near  to  some  of  them  on  the  heights.  On  the  20th, 
Lieutenant  Scarrit  and  Lieutenant  Pope  were  sent  out  to 
reconnoitre  the  works,  Scarrit  on  the  right  and  Pope  on 
the  left  of  the  town.  The  latter  approached  and  dis 
covered  the  position  of  a  battery  on  the  extreme  left,  and 
was  exposed  to  a  fire  of  cannon  and  musketry  from 
lancers,  from  which,  after  finishing  his  observations,  he 
retired  in  safety.  On  the  night  of  the  20th,  the  mortar 
and  howitzer  batteries  were  placed  in  a  position  to  play 
on  the  strongholds  around  the  citadel.  The  action 
commenced  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  by  the  opening 
of  these  two  batteries.  Colonel  Garland's  brigade  were 
ordered  to  move  to  the  left  for  the  purpose  of  storming 
the  battery  discovered  by  Lieutenant  Pope  the  day  before, 
and  to  occupy,  if  possible,  the  lower  part  of  the  city. 
Major  Mansfield,  Captain  Williams,  and  Lieutenant  Pope 
were  ordered  in  advance,  to  select  the  most  available 
point  of  attack,  and  to  direct  the  movements  of  the 
column  upon  it.  Three  companies  were  thrown  forward 
as  skirmishers,  and  advanced  rapidly  towards  the  works, 
followed  by  the  brigade  in  line  of  battle,  under  a  cross 


TAYLOR.  135 

fire  of  artillery  from  the  citadel  and  fort,  and  a  heavy 
fire  of  musketry. 

The  column  charged  into  a  street  about  two  hundred 
yards  to  the  the  right  of  the  battery,  passed  the  works 
entirely,  and  effected  an  entrance  into  the  tower.  After 
advancing  rapidly  about  four  hundred  yards  beyond  the 
battery,  they  came  immediately  in  front  of  a  masked 
battery  of  artillery  and  musketry,  which  swept  the 
street  completely  by  its  range.  The  barricades  of  the 
streets  at  sixty  yards  distance  from  the  head  of  the 
column,  were  lined  with  Mexican  troops,  who,  entirely 
covering  themselves,  opened  a  murderous  discharge  of 
grape  and  musketry  upon  the  advancing  column.  Every 
house  in  the  street  was  pierced  for  musketry  and 
enfiladed  the  street  in  every  direction.  Under  this  fire 
the  following  officers  were  killed  or  mortally  wounded  : 
Major  Barbour,  3d  infantry,  by  grape-shot  in  the 
abdomen ;  Captain  Williams,  Topographical  Engineers, 
shot  through  the  body  by  a  musket-ball,  fell  into  the 
street  and  was  carried  into  the  doorway  of  a  house  by 
Lieutenant  Pope,  amidst  a  shower  of  balls  that  covered 
him  with  dust.  The  gallantry  of  this  young  officer, 
now  in  his  first  battle,  is  spoken  of  in  admiration  by  the 
army.  *  Captain  Williams  died  the  next  day,  and  was 
buried  with  the  honours  of  war  by  the  Mexican  troops, 
into  whose  hands  he  had  fallen.  Lieutenant  Merritt, 
1st  infantry,  shot  through  the  body,  and  died  the  next  day. 

Wounded. — Major  Mansfield,  ball  through  calf  of  the 
leg.  This  brave  officer  would  not  leave  on  account  of 
his  wound,  but  rode  about,  behaving  in  the  most  gallant 
manner  all  day.  Captain  Bainbridge,  3d  infantry, 
slightly  wounded  in  the  hand.  Major  Lear,  dangerously 
wounded  in  the  mouth,  the  ball  passing  out  at  the  back 

of  his  head.     Major  Abercrombie,  1st  infantry,  severely 
9 


136  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

wounded.  Lieutenant  R.  Graham,  4th  infantry,  severely 
wounded  in  both  legs  and  body  ;  hopes  are  entertained 
of  his  recovery.  A  great  number  of  men  killed  and 
wounded — number  not  known. 

It  being  impossible,  in  the  opinion  of  the  engineer 
officers,  to  effect  anything  in  attacking  the  barricades  in 
'front,  the  column  moved  rapidly  up  a  street  to  the  right, 
with  the  intention  of  turning  them.  Being  reinforced 
by  the  Ohio  regiment,  a  second  charge  was  made, 
under  the  direction  of  General  Butler,  which,  owing  to 
the  tremendous  fire  of  musketry  and  grape  from  the 
barricades  and  stone  houses,  likewise  proved  ineffectual. 
The  troops  were  then  ordered  by  General  Taylor  to 
retire  in  good  order,  and  get  under  cover  from  the 
enemy's  fire,  which  order  was  handsomely  executed. 

The  following  officers  were  killed  or  mortally  wound 
ed  (since  died)  in  the  second  charge :  Colonel  Watson, 
of  the  Baltimore  battalion ;  Captain  L.  N.  Morris,  3d 
infantry ;  Lieutenant  D.  Irwin,  3d  infantry ;  Lieutenant 
R.  Hazlitt,  4th  infantry.  [Three  officers  were  killed 
in  the  first  charge  which  I  did  not  include  in  that  list, 
viz  :  Lieutenant  Hoskins,  3d  infantry ;  Lieutenant  J.  S. 
Woods,  4th  infantry  ;  Captain  Field,  3d  infantry, 

Wounded. — Major-General  Butler,  slightly  through 
the  calf  of  the  leg;  Colonel  Mitchell,  in  the  leg;  Cap 
tain  Lamotte,  1st  infantry,  slightly;  Lieutenant  Dil- 
worth,  1st  infantry,  leg  shot  off. 

During  the  engagement  in  town,  of  Garland's  brigade, 
the  forts  that  were  passed  ontheleft,  in  entering  the  town, 
were  gallantly  carried  by  the  Mississippi  and  Tennessee 
regiments — the  first  commanded  by  Colonel  Campbell, 
and  the  second  by  Colonel  Davis.  Colonel  McClung,  of 
the  Mississippi  'regiment,  was  dangerously  wounded. 
These  regiments  sustained  a  great  loss  of  killed  and 


TAYLOR.  137 

\vounded,  but  I  cannot,  in  the  short  time  left  me,  ascer 
tain  the  names  or  the  number  of  those  who  fell.  Cap 
tain  Bragg's  battery  of  light  artillery  was  brought  into 
action,  but  it  being  impossible  to  use  it  effectively,  it 
was  withdrawn.  Several  pieces  of  artillery  were  cap 
tured.  The  forts  that  were  taken  were  occupied  by 
Ridgely's  light  artillery  company,  who  turned  the 
captured  pieces  against  the  Mexican  works,  and  the 
cannonade  was  kept  up  the  rest  of  the  day. — There 
were  many  skirmishes,  and  gallant  deeds,  &c.,  &c., 
which  I  will  mention  at  a  future  time. 

On  the  night  of  the  22d,  the  enemy  abandoned  the 
two  works  which  had  proved  so  destructive  to  the  3d 
and  4th  infantry,  and  they  wrere  occupied  early  next 
morning  by  the  Mississippi  and  Tennessee  regiments, 
under  General  Quitman.  About  eight  o'clock  the  same 
morning,  these  two  regiments  advanced  on  the  town, 
and  a  sharp  engagement  commenced.  These  troops 
were  supported  by  a  body  of  Texan  rangers  (dismounted 
for  the  occasion),  under  General  Henderson, 'and  by  the 
3d  regiment  of  infantry.  The  fight  was  kept  up  until 
four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  during  which  time  our  troops  drove 
the  enemy  from  house  to  house,  almost  to  the  main  plaza. 
The  loss  of  life  on  our  side  was  not  severe  during  this 
day.  On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  a  flag  of  truce 
was  sent  in,  which  resulted  in  the  capitulation  of  the 
town. 

During  the  whole  of  the  engagement  on  the  21st, 
Colonel  Kinney  was  exceedingly  useful  in  carrying 
orders,  arid  in  giving  advice  in  matters  with  which  his 
thorough  acquaintance  with  Mexican  customs  rendered 
him  familiar.  He  was  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  mov 
ing  about  from  point  to  point,  and  doing  good  execution 
with  his  rifle.  This  gentleman's  services  have  been  in- 


138  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

valuable  to  General  Taylor  in  the  movements  of  the 
army  from  Matamoras  to  this  place.  He  has  been  every 
where  reconnoitering  the  country,  and  procuring  infor 
mation — riding  day  and  night,  and  exposing  his  life  in  a 
thousand  ways.  The  colonel  never  flinched  from  any 
duty  required  of  him,  and,  had  General  Taylor  ordered 
him  to  go  and  bring  him  Ampudia's  portfolio,  he  would 
have  undertaken  it.  I  devote  a  paragraph  to  a  mention 
of  this  gentleman's  service,  because  he  deserves  much 
from  the  public,  for  whom  he  has  laboured  so  arduously 
and  so  efficiently.  H. 

Terms  of  capitulation  of  the  city  of  Monterey,  the 
capital  of  Nuevo  Leon,  agreed  upon  by  the  undersigned 
commissioners,  to  wit :  General  Worth,  of  the  United 
States  army,  General  Henderson,  of  the  Texan  volun 
teers,  and  Colonel  Davis,  of  the  Mississippi  riflemen,  on 
the  part  of  Major-General  Taylor,  Commander-in-chief 
of  the  United  States  forces,  and  General  Requena  and 
General  M.  Llano,  Governor  of  Nuevo  Leon,  on  the 
part  of  Senor  General  Don  Pedro  Ampudia,  command 
ing  in  chief  the  army  of  the  north  of  Mexico. 

ARTICLE  I.  As  the  legitimate  result  of  the  operations 
before  this  place,  and  the  present  position  of  the  con 
tending  armies,  it  is  agreed  that  the  city,  the  fortifica 
tions,  cannon,  the  munitions  of  war,  and  all  other  public 
property,  with  the  undermentioned  exceptions,  be  sur 
rendered  to  the  commanding  general  of  the  United 
States  forces  now  at  Monterey. 

ARTICLE  II.  That  the  Mexican  forces  be  allowed  to 
retain  the  following  arms,  to  wit:  the  commissioned 
officers  their  side-arms,  the  infantry  their  arms  and 
accoutrements,  the  cavalry  their  arms  and  accoutrements, 
the  artillery  one  field  battery,  not  to  exceed  six  pieces, 
with  twenty-one  rounds  of  ammunition. 

ARTICLE  III.  That  the  Mexican  armed  forces  retire, 
within  seven  days  from  this  date,  beyond  the  line  formed 


TAYLOR.  139 

by  the  pass  of  Rinconada,  the  city  of  Linares  and  San 
Fernando  de  Preras. 

ARTICLE  IV.  That  the  citadel  of  Monterey  be  evacu 
ated  by  the  Mexican  and  occupied  by  the  American 
forces  to-morrow  morning  at  ten  o'clock. 

ARTICLE  V.  To  avoid  collisions,  and  for  mutual 
convenience,  that  the  troops  of  the  United  States  will 
not  occupy  the  city  until  the  Mexican  forces  have  with 
drawn,  except  for  hospital  and  storage  purposes. 

ARTICLE  VI.  That  the  forces  of  the  United  States 
will  not  advance  beyond  the  line  specified  in  the  3d 
article,  before  the  expiration  of  eight  weeks,  or  until 
orders  or  instructions  of  the  respective  governments  can 
be  received. 

ARTICLE  VII.  That  the  public  property  to  be  deli 
vered,  shall  be  turned  over  and  received  by  officers 
appointed  by  the  commanding  generals  of  the  two  armies. 

ARTICLE  VIII.  That  all  doubts  as  to  the  meaning 
of  any  of  the  preceding  articles,  shall  be  solved  by  an 
equitable  construction,  or  on  principles  of  liberality  to 
the  retiring  army. 

ARTICLE  IX.  That  the  Mexican  flag,  when  struck 
at  the  citadel,  may  be  saluted  by  its  own  battery. 

Done  at  Monterey,  Sept,  24,  1846. 

W.  J.  WORTH, 

Brigadier-General  United  States  Army. 

J.  PINKNEY  HENDERSON, 
Major-General  commanding  the  Texan  Volunteers. 
JEFFERSON  DAVIS, 

Colonel  Mississippi  Riflemen. 
MANUEL  L.  LLANO, 
T.  REQUENA, 
ORTEGA. 

Approved, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 

Major-General  United  States  Army,  commanding. 
PEDRO  AMPUDIA. 


:a.3 


.,.„•-»••    t,^ »'  •••--.•;:.;;,.•  H,.,. -iv  •;/<•*• '*:*••.  ..i  c    MS 
CHAPTER  VII. 

The  battle  of  Buena  Vista. 

MONTEREY  now  became  the  head-quarters  of  General 
Taylor.  It  is  an  old  city,  built  by  the  Spaniards  nearly 
three  centuries  since.  It  is  nearly  two  miles  long  and 
one  mile  wide,  with  streets  running  parallel,  and  crossed 
by  others  running  at  right  angles.  The  city  contains 
three  plazas  or  large  squares.  Upon  the  main  one  of 
these  stands  the  principal  cathedral ;  this  building,  du 
ring  the  time  of  the  attack,  was  used  by  the  enemy  as  a 
depository  for  gunpowder. 

The  houses  are  of  one  story,  and  are  built  in  the  old 
Spanish  style,  with  walls  of  strong  mason-work  thirty 
inches  in  thickness,  rising  three  or  four  feet  above  the 
roof.  These  walls,  rising  in  the  manner  they  do,  afforded 
the  Mexicans  a  powerful  means  of  defence.  The  city, 
standing  as  it  does  at  the  gorge  of  the  most  romantic 
upheaved  mountains  in  the  world,  commands  the  only 
passes  to  the  interior  and  its  capital.  Through  the  city, 
and  winding  round  it,  is  a  branch  of  the  river  St.  Juan, 
adding  great  beauty  to  the  spot,  and  yielding  to  the  solid 
comfort  of  the  inhabitants. 

After  establishing  his  head-quarters  in  this  place, 
General  Taylor  detached  Brigadier-General  Worth  with 
1200  men  and  eight  pieces  of  artillery  to  Saltillo 
Brigadier-General  Wool  and  the  column  under  his 
command,  2400  strong,  with  six  pieces  of  artillery,  were 
ordered  to  occupy  the  town- of  Pan-as,  a  small  but  beau- 


TAYLOR.  141 

lif'ul  place  seventy  miles  north-east  of  Saltillo.  Saltillo, 
to  which  Worth  was  ordered,  is  about  seventy  miles 
from  Monterey,  and  at  an  elevation  of  about  2000  feet 
above  the  latter  place.  General  Patterson  having  been 
withdrawn  on  an  expedition  to  act  in  conjunction  with 
the  fleet  in  the  Gulf,  General  Butler  was  ordered  to  take 
the  command  of  the  reserve.  Saltillo  and  Parras  were 
occupied  by  the  Americans  without  any  opposition,  the 
enemy  having  fallen  back  as  far  as  San  Luis  Potosi. 

The  fleet  in  the  Gulf  had  as  yet  taken  no  active  part 
in  the  war,  except  capturing  Tampico,  and  blockading 
Vera  Cruz  and  the  various  ports  lying  on  the  Gulf;  thus 
preventing  any  communication,  and  cutting  off  all 
sources  of  supplies  in  that  quarter. 

Santa  Anna  had  now  been  recalled  to  Mexico,  and 
placed  at  the  head  of  affairs,  and  Paredes  deposed. 
Santa  Anna  was  nominally  commander-iii-chief  of  the 
Mexican  armies,  really  dictator.  He  was  raising  a  for 
midable  army  to  resist  the  further  advance  of  General 
Taylor.  Before  December,  he  had  succeeded  in  raising 
20,000  men,  and  concentrating  them  at  San  Luis  Potosi, 
which  he  strongly  fortified,  and  filled  with  military  stores. 

After  awaiting  the  advance  of  this  formidable  force  for 
some  time,  General  Taylor  determined  to  meet  them  on 
their  own  ground.  He  began  to  prepare  for  a  movement 
towards  Victoria.  The  following  despatch  refers  to  his 
operations  at  this  time  : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION,  J 
Camp  near  Monterey^  Dec.  8?  1846.  ) 

SIR:  As  I  expect  to  march  in  a  few  days  for  Victoria, 
I  consider  the  present  a  proper  occasion  to  explain  some 
what  in  detail  the  dispositions  which  have  been  made, 
and  which  are  contemplated,  for  the  occupation  and  de- 


142  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

fence  of  this  frontier.  With  this  view  I  enclose  a  sketch 
exhibiting  the  line  from  Parras  to  Tampico,  and  showing 
how  a  portion  of  that  line  is  naturally  marked  by  the 
chain  of  the  «  Sierra  Madre." 

It  will  be  seen  at  once  that  San  Luis  Potosi  is  a 
position  almost  equally  distant  from  the  points  of  this 
line.  This  would  give  the  force  at  San  Luis  a  very 
great  advantage  over  us,  were  it  not  for  the  nature  of 
the  country  and  the  communications ;  the  regions  between 
San  Luis  and  the  mountains  being  scantily  supplied  with 
water  and  subsistence,  and  the  road  by  Saltillo  and 
Monterey  being  the  only  practicable  route  for  artillery 
across  the  mountains.  Without  artillery,  the  Mexican 
troops  are  not  at  all  formidable,  and,  I  think,  have  but 
little  confidence  in  themselves.  I  therefore  consider  the 
position  of  Saltillo  and  Parras  as  of  prime  importance. 
With  an  intermediate  post  at  Patos,  and  the  means,  by  a 
good  road,  of  rapidly  uniting,  if  necessary,  I  'deem  the 
columns  of  Brigadier-Generals  Wool  and  Worth  quite 
equal  to  hold  that  flank  of  the  line.  I  shall,  however, 
reinforce  the  latter  general,  particularly  in  cavalry,  and 
shall  establish  a  reserve  at  this  place  to  support  the 
advanced  positions,  should  the  movements  of  the  enemy 
require  it. 

Brigadier-General  Wool  is  understood  to  be  now  at 
Parras  with  his  column,  say  2400  strong,  with  six  guns. 
Brigadier-General  Worth  has  his  head-quarters  at  Saltillo 
— his  command  consisting  of  some  1200  regular  troops, 
with  eight  guns.  I  propose  to  reinforce  him  by  two 
regiments  of  volunteer  foot,  and  a  portion  of  the  Ken 
tucky  cavalry.  Lieutenant  Kearney's  company  is  all 
the  regular  cavalry  force  I  can  assign  him  at  present. 

At  Monterey  will  be  the  head-quarters  of  Major- 
General  Butler,  commanding  the  reserve.  Two  com 


TAYLOR.  443 

panies  of  artillery  and  one  of  the  weak  infantry  bat 
talions  (4th)  will  compose  the  garrison  of  the  place. 
The  troops  of  General  Butler's  proper  division  (Ohio, 
Indiana,  and  Kentucky),  will  be  at  this  point,  and  in 
echelon  on  the  route  hence  to  Caraargo  and  the  mouth 
of  the  Rio  Grande,  except  those  which  may  be  ordered 
to  reinforce  General  Worth,  as  above  indicated. 

Tampico  is  now  garrisoned  by  eight  strong  companies 
of  artillery,  and  the  Alabama  regiment  of  volunteers,  say 
1000  effectives.  I  consider  this  force  quite  sufficient 
to  hold  the  place,  controlling,  as  we  do,  the  harbour. 
*  *  *  These  considerations  attracted  my  attention 
to  Victoria  before  the  surrender  of  Tampico,  but  I  now 
deem  it  more  than  ever  important,  for  I  have  reason  to 
believe  that  a  corps  of  observation  is  in  that  quarter, 
under  the  orders  of  General  Urrea,  having  his  head 
quarters  perhaps  at  Tula,  and  sending  forward  advanced 
parties  as  far  as  Victoria. 

*  *  *  Major-General  Patterson  has  accordingly 
been  instructed  to  march  from  Matamoras  on  Victoria, 
with  three  regiments  of  volunteers  from  his  division,  one 
being  the  Tennessee  horse.  I  propose  to  move  from 
this  point,  say  by  the  12th  instant,  with  the  regular 
troops  nowT  here,  under  Brigadier-General  Twiggs  (ex 
cept  those  to  be  left  in  garrison,  as  above),  and  the  regi 
ments  of  General  Patterson's  division,  under  Brigadier- 
General  Quitman.  At  Montemorelos,  sixty-eight  miles 
from  this,  I  shall  effect  a  junction  with  Riley,  who  is 
now  there,  and  incorporate  with  the  column  the  2d  Ten 
nessee  regiment,  under  orders  for  that  place.  With 
this  augmented  force  I  expect  to  effect  a  junction  with 
Major-General  Patterson  before  Victoria. 

You  will  perceive  that  one  effect  of  the  arrangements 
above  indicated  will  be  to  throw  Major-General  Patter- 


144  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

son,  with  the  troops  of  his  appropriate  division  (Ten 
nessee,  Illinois,  Mississippi,  Alabama,  and  Georgia),  on 
the  left  and  near  the  coast,  while  Major-General  Butler, 
with  his  division,  occupies  the  line  of  communication 
from  the  Rio  Grande  to  Saltillo. 

Intelligence  received  this  moment  from  Saltillo,  repre 
sents  all  quiet  in  front.  We  have  reports  of  a  revolution 
in  Mexico,  embracing  two  or  three  states,  and  directed 
against  General  Santa  Anna,  but  the  information  does 
not  come  in  an  authentic  form. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 

Major-General  U.  S.  ./?.,  Commanding. 
The  ADJUTANT-GENERAL  of  the  Army,  ) 
Washington,  D.  C.          ) 

General  Taylor  started  for  Victoria  on  the  15th  of 
December,  and  on  the  17th  joined  the  second  regiment 
of  infantry  and  the  second  Tennessee  regiment  of  foot 
from  Camargo.  On  arriving  at  Montemorelos,  he  re 
ceived  intelligence  from  General  Worth,  commanding  at 
Saltillo,  that  he  was  hourly  expecting  an  attack  on  that 
place  by  Santa  Anna.  Sending  forward  General  Quit- 
man  with  a  field  battery  to  meet  General  Patterson  at 
Victoria,  General  Taylor  now  fell  back  on  Monterey, 
and  on  the  20th  advanced  towards  Saltillo  with  General 
Twiggs's  division.  But  on  his  way  he  received  fresh 
advices,  informing  him  of  the  arrival  of  General  Wool 
with  a  reinforcement  at  Saltillo,  and  that  the  enemy 
were  withdrawing  towards  San  Luis  Potosi. 

In  consequence  of  this  change  of  circumstances  Gene 
ral  Taylor  set  out  for  Victoria,  where  he  arrived  on  the 
30th  of  December. 

General  Taylor  was  now  superseded  in  the  command 


TAYLOR.  145 

of  the  Army  of  Occupation,  by  Major- General  Win- 
field  Scott,  who  was  appointed  commander-in-chief  of 
all  the  hnd  forces  in  Mexico,  and  at  the  various  posts 
on  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  theatre  of  Scott's  operations  was  different  from 
that  of  Taylor's.  His  main  object  was  the  reduction  of 
the  city  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  the  fort  of  St.  Juan  de  Ulloa, 
by  a  combined  land  and  sea  force.  Vera  Cruz  being  the 
key  of  the  main  road  to  the  capital,  General  Scott  thought 
that  its  reduction  would  compel  the  Mexicans  to  sue  for 
peace.  To  effect  this  object  it  became  necessary  for  him 
to  draw  from  General  Taylor  the  main  body  of  his 
regular  forces :  to  apprise  Taylor  of  this  fact  he  ad 
dressed  him  the  following  letter,  which  was  written  pre 
vious  to  his  setting  out  for  the  seat  of  war. 

NEW  YORK,  Nov.  25,  1846. 

MY  DEAR  GENERAL:  I  left  Washington  late  in  the 
day  yesterday,  and  expect  to  embark  for  New  Orleans 
the  30th  in st.  By  the  12th  of  December  I  may  be  in 
that  city,  at  Point  Isabel  the  17th,  and  Camargo,  say  the 
23d — in  order  to  be  within  easy  corresponding  distance 
from  you.  It  is  not  probable  that  I  may  be  able  to  visit 
Monterey,  and  circumstances  may  prevent  your  coming 
to  me.  I  shall  much  regret  not  having  an  early  oppor 
tunity  of  felicitating  you  in  person  upon  your  many  bril 
liant  achievements ;  but  we  may  meet  somewhere  in  the 
interior  of  Mexico. 

I  am  not  coming,  my  dear  general,  to  supersede  you 
in  the  immediate  command  on  the  line  of  operations 
rendered  illustrious  by  you  and  your  gallant  army.  My 
oroposed  theatre  is  different.  You  may  imagine  it ;  and 
wish  very  much  that  it  were  prudent,  at  this  distance, 
to  tell  you  all  that  I  expect  to  attempt  or  hope  to  exe- 


146  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

cute.  I  have  been  admonished  that  despatches  have 
been  lost,  and  I  have  no  special  messenger  at  hand. 
Your  imagination  will  be  aided  by  the  letters  of  the 
secretary  of  war,  conveyed  by  Mr.  Armistead,  Major 
Graham,  and  Mr.  M'Lane. 

But,  my  dear  general,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  take  from 
you  most  of  the  gallant  officers  and  men  (regulars  and 
volunteers)  whom  you  have  so  long  and  so  nobly  com 
manded.  I  am  afraid  that  I  shall,  by  imperious  neces 
sity — the  approach  of  yellow  fever  on  the  gulf  coast — 
reduce  you,  for  a  time,  to  stand  on  the  defensive.  This 
will  be  infinitely  painful  to  you,  and,  for  that  reason, 
distressing  to  me.  But  I  rely  upon  your  patriotism  to 
submit  to  the  temporary  sacrifice  with  cheerfulness.  No 
man  can  better  afford  to  do  so.  Recent  victories  place 
you  on  that  high  eminence ;  and  I  even  flatter  myself 
that  any  benefit  that  may  result  to  me,  personally,  from 
the  unequal  division  of  troops  alluded  to,  will  lessen  the 
pain  of  your  consequent  inactivity. 

You  will  be  aware  of  the  recent-  call  for  nine  regi 
ments  of  new  volunteers,  including  one  of  Texas  horse. 
The  president  may  soon  ask  for  many  more  ;  and  we 
are  not  without  hope  that  Congress  may  add  ten  or 
twelve  to  the  regular  establishment.  These,  by  the 
spring,  say  April,  may,  by  the  aid  of  large  bounties,  be 
in  the  field — should  Mexico  not  earlier  propose  terms 
of  accommodation;  and,  long  before  the  spring  (March), 
it  is  probable  you  will  be  again  in  force  to  resume  offen 
sive  operations. 

It  was  not  possible  for  me  to  find  time  to  write  from 
Washington,  as  I  much  desired.  I  only  received  an 
intimation  to  hold  myself  in  preparation  for  Mexico,  on 
the  18th  instant.  Much  has  been  done  towards  that 
end,  and  more  remains  to  be  executed. 


TAYLOR.  147 

Your  detailed  report  of  the  operations  at  Monterey, 
and  reply  to  the  secretary's  despatch,  by  Lieutenant 
Armistead,  were  both  received  two  days  after  I  was 
instructed  to  proceed  south. 

In  haste,  I  remain,  my  dear  general,  yours,  faithfully, 
WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

Major-General  Z.  TAYLOR,          u  ,;|  r, 
U.  S.  Array,  commanding,  &c.  ) 

Not  only  were  nearly  all  the  regular  troops  now  with 
drawn  from  General  Taylor ;  but  his  noble  coadjutor 
General  Worth  was  detached  and  ordered  to  march  at 
the  head  of  them  from  his  post  at  Saltillo  towards  Vera 
Cruz,  while  Taylor  was  ordered  to  fall  back  on  Monterey 
and  await  the  arrival  of  fresh  recruits,  volunteers  who 
were  destined  to  take  the  place  of  the  veteran  warriors 
of  Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  and  Monterey.  His 
address  to  these  veterans  is  characteristic  : 

"It  is  with  deep  sensibility  that  the  commanding 
general  finds  himself  separated  from  the  troops  he  so 
long  commanded.  To  those  corps,  regular  and  volun 
teer,  who  had  shared  with  him  the  active  services  of  the 
field,  he  feels  the  attachment  due  to  such  associations, 
while  to  those  who  are  making  their  first  campaign,  he 
must  express  his  regret  that  he  cannot  participate  with 
them  in  its  eventful  scenes.  To  all,  both  officers  and 
men,  he  extends  his  heartfelt  wishes  for  their  continued 
success  and  happiness,  confident  that  their  achievements 
on  another  theatre  will  redound  to  the  credit  of  their 
country  and  its  arms." 

On  reaching  Monterey  his  regular  force  was  600,  in 
cluding  May's  dragoons.  In  February  he  had  received 
reinforcements  raising  his  army  to  nearly  6000  men. 

Anticipating  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  Santa  Anna, 
an  attempt  to  possess  himself  of  the  line  of  posts  be- 


148  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

tween  himself  and  Matamoras,  he  determined  to  advance 
and  fight  a  pitched  battle  with  him.  Accordingly,  on 
the  20th  of  February,  we  find  him  encamped  at  Agua 
Nueva,  eighteen  miles  south  of  Saltillo,  and  sending  out 
videttes,  who  return  with  intelligence  that  Santa  Anna 
is  within  thirty  miles  of  his  position,  rapidly  advancing 
with  some  20,000  men  against  his  forlorn  hope  of  five 
thousand  four  hundred. 

On  receiving  this  intelligence,  General  Taylor  de 
termined  to  choose  his  own  battle  ground,  and  accord 
ingly  fell  back  to  an  admirable  position  in  front  of  Buena 
Vista,  seven  miles  south  of  Saltillo.  The  following  de- 

>  o 

tailed  report  of  the  great  commander  himself  gives  the 
best  general  view  of  the  battle  which  has  appeared. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION,  ) 
Agua  Nueva,  March  6?  1847.  ) 

SIR:  I  have  the  honour  to  submit  a  detailed  report 
of  the  operations  of  the  forces  under  my  command 
which  resulted  in  the  engagement  of  Buena  Vista,  the 
repulse  of  the  Mexican  army,  and  the  reoccupation  of 
'this  position. 

The  information  which  reached  me  of  the  advance 
and  concentration  of  a  heavy  Mexican  force  in  my  front, 
had  assumed  such  a  probable  form,  as  to  induce  a  spe 
cial  examination  far  beyond  the  reach  of  our  pickets  to 
ascertain  its  correctness.  A  small  party  of  Texan  spies, 
under  Major  McCullough,  despatched  to  the  hacienda  of 
Encarnacion,  thirty  miles  from  this,  on  the  route  to  San 
Luis  Potosi,  had  reported  a  cavalry  force  of  unknown 
strength  at  that  place.  On  the  20th  of  February,  a 
strong  reconnoissance  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  May  was 
despatched  to  the  hacienda  of  Heclkmda,  while  Major 
McCullough  made  another  examination,  of  Encarnacion. 


TAYLOR.  149 

The  result  of  these  expeditions  left  no  doubt  that  the 
enemy  was  in  large  force  at  Encarnacion,  under  the 
orders  of  General  §anta  Anna,  and  that  he  meditated  a 
forward  movement  and  attack  upon  our  position. 

As  the  camp  of  Agua  Nueva  could  be  turned  on 
either  flank,  and  as  the  enemy's  force  was  greatly  supe 
rior  to  our  own,  particularly  in  the  arm  of  cavalry,  T 
determined,  after  much  consideration,  to  take  up  a  posi 
tion  about  eleven  miles  in  rear,  and  there  await  the 
attack.  The  army  broke  up  its  camp  and  marched  at 
noon  on  the  21st,  encamping  at  the  ne\v  position  a  little 
in  front  of  the  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista.  With  a  small 
force  I  proceeded  to  Saltillo,  to  make  some  necessary 
arrangements  for  the  defence  of  the  town,  leaving  Brig 
adier-General  Wool  in  the  immediate  command  of  the 
troops. 

Before  those  arrangements  were  completed,  on  the 
morning  of  the  22d,  I  was  advised  that  the  enemy  was 
in  sight,  advancing.  Upon  reaching  the  ground  it  was 
found  that  his  cavalry  advance  was  in  our  front,  having 
marched  from  Encarnacion,  as  we  have  since  learned,  at 
11  o'clock  on  the  day  previous,  and  driving  in  a  mounted 
force  left  at  Agua  Nueva  to  cover  the  removal  of  public 
stores.  Our  troops  were  in  position,  occupying  a  line  of 
remarkable  strength.  The  road  at  this  point  becomes  a 
narrow  defile,  the  valley  on  its  right  being  rendered  quite 
impracticable  for  artillery  by  a  system  of  deep  and  impas 
sable  gullies,  wrhile  on  the  left  a  succession  of  rugged 
ridges  and  precipitous  ravines  extends  far  back  toward 
the  mountain  which  bounds  the  valley.  The  features  of 
the  ground  were  such  as  nearly  to  paralyze  the  artillery 
and  cavalry  of  the  enemy,  while  his  infantry  could  not 
derive  all  the  advantage  of  its  numerical  superiority.  In 
this  position  we  prepared  to  receive  him.  Captain  Wash- 


150          TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

ington's  battery  (4th  artillery)  was  posted  to  command 
the  road,  while  the  1st  and  2d  Illinois  regiments,  under 
Colonels  Hard  in  and  Bissell,  each  eight  companies  (to  the 
latter  of  which  was  attached  Captain  Conner's  company 
of  Texas  volunteers),  and  the  2d  Kentucky,  under  Col 
onel  McKee,  occupied  the  crests  of  the  ridges  on  the  left 
and  in  rear.  The  Arkansas  and  Kentucky,  regiments  of 
cavalry,  commanded  by  Colonels  Yell  and  H.  Marshall, 
occupied  the  extreme  left  near  the  base  of  the  mountain, 
while  the  Indiana  brigade,  under  Brigadier-General 
Lane  (composed  of  the  2d  and  3d  regiments,  under 
Colonels  Bowles  and  Lane),  the  Mississippi  riflemen, 
under  Colonel  Davis,  the  squadrons  of  the  1st  and  2d 
dragoons,  under  Captain  Steen  and  Lieutenant-Colonel 
May,  and  the  light  batteries  of  Captains  Sherman  and 
Bragg,  3d  artillery,  were  held  in  reserve. 

At  eleven  o'clock  I  received  from  General  Santa  Anna 
a  summons  to  surrender  at  discretion,  which,  with  a  copy 
of  my  reply,  I  have  already  transmitted.  The  enemy 
still  forbore  his  attack,  evidently  waiting  for  the  arrival 
of  his  rear  columns,  which  could  be  distinctly  seen  by  our 
look-outs  as  they  approached  the  field.  A  demonstra 
tion  made  on  his  left  caused  me  to  detach  the  2d  Ken 
tucky  regiment  and  a  section  of  artillery  to  our  right,  in 
which  position  they  bivouacked  for  the  night.  In  the 
meantime  the  Mexican  light  troops  had  engaged  ours  on 
the  extreme  left  (composed  of  parts  of  the  Kentucky 
and  Arkansas  cavalry  dismounted,  and  a  rifle  battalion 
from  the  Indiana  brigade,  under  Major  Gorman,  the 
whole  commanded  by  Colonel  Marshall),  and  kept  up  a 
sharp  fire,  climbing  the  mountain  side,  and  apparently 
endeavouring  to  gain  our  flank.  Three  pieces  of  Captain 
Washington's  battery  had  been  detached  to  the  left,  and 
were  supported  by  the  2d  Indiana  regiment.  An  occa- 


TAYLOR.  .151 

sional  shell  was  thrown  by  the  enemy  into  this  part  of 
our  line,  but  \vitLuut  effect.  The  skirmishing  of  the 
light  troops  was  kept  up  \vith  trifling  loss  on  our  part 
until  dark,  when  I  became  convinced  that  no  serious 
attack  would  be  made  before  the  morning,  and  returned1, 
with  the  Mississippi  regiment  and  squadron  of  2d  dra 
goons,  to  Saltillo.  The  troops  bivouacked  without  fires, 
and  laid  upon  their  arms.  A  body  of  cavalry,  some 
1500  strong,  had  been  visible  all  day  in  rear  of  the 
town,  having  entered  the  valley  through  a  narrow  pass 
east  of  the  city.  This  cavalry,  commanded  by  General 
Minon,  had  evidently  been  thrown  in  our  rear  to  break 
up  and  harass  our  retreat,  and  perhaps  make  some  at 
tempt  against  the  town  if  practicable.  The  city  was 
occupied  by  four  excellent  companies  of  Illinois  volun 
teers,  under  Major  Warren  of  the  1st  regiment.  A  field- 
work,  which  commanded  most  of  the  approaches,  was 
garrisoned  by  Captain  Webster's  company,  1st  artillery, 
and  armed  with  two  24-pound  howitzers,  while  the  train 
and  head-quarter  camp  was  guarded  by  two  companies 
of  Mississippi  riflemen,  under  Captain  Rogers,  and  a  field- 
piece  commanded  by  Captain  Shover,  3d  artillery.  Hav 
ing  made  these  dispositions  for  the  protection  of  the  rear, 
I  proceeded  on  the  morning  of  the  23d  to  Buena  Vista, 
ordering  forward  all  the  other  available  troops.  The 
action  had  commenced  before  my  arrival  on  the  field. 

During  the  evening  and  night  of  the  22d  the  enemy 
had  thrown  a  body  of  light  troops  on  the  mountain  side, 
with  the  purpose  of  outflanking  our  left ;  and  it  was  here 
that  the  action  of  the  23d  commenced  at  an  early  hour. 
Our  riflemen,  under  Colonel  Marshall,  who  had  been  re 
inforced  by  three  companies  under  Major  Trail,  2d  Illi 
nois  volunteers,  maintained  their  ground  handsomely 
against  a  greatly  superior  force,  holding  themselves 
10 


152  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

under  cover,  and  using  their  weapons  with  deadly  effect. 
About  eight  o'clock  a  strong  .demonstration  was  made 
against  the  centre  of  our  position,  a  heavy  column  moving 
along  the  road.  This  force  was  soon  dispersed  by  a  few 
rapid  and  well-directed  shots  from  Captain  Washington's 
battery.  In  the  mean  time  the  enemy  was  concentrating 
a  large  force  of  infantry  and  cavalry  under  cover  of  the 
ridges,  with  the  obvious  intention  of  forcing  our  left, 
which  was  posted  on  an  extensive  plateau.  The  2d  In 
diana  and  2d  Illinois  regiments  formed  this  part  of  our 
line,  the  former  covering  three  pieces  of  light  artillery, 
under  the  orders  of  Captain  O'Brien — Brigadier- General 
Lane  being  in  the  immediate  command.  In  order  to 
bring  his  men  within  effective  range,  General  Lane  or 
dered  the  artillery  and  2d  Indiana  regiment  forward. 
The  artillery  advanced  within  musket  range  of  a  heavy 
body  of  Mexican  infantry,  and  was  served  against  it  with 
great  effect,  but  without  being  able  to  check  its  advance. 
The  infantry  ordered  to  its  support  had  fallen  back  in 
disorder,  being  exposed,  as  well  as  the  battery,  not  only 
to  a  severe  fire  of  small  arms  from  the  front,  but  also  to 
a  murderous  cross-fire  of  grape  and  canister  from  a 
Mexican  battery  on  the  left.  Captain  O'Brien  found  it 
impossible  to  retain  his  position  without  support,  but 
was  only  able  to  withdraw  two  of  his  pieces,  all  the 
horses  and  cannoneers  of  the  third  piece  being  killed  or 
disabled.  The  2d  Indiana  regiment,  which  had  fallen 
back  as  stated,  could  not  be  rallied,  and  took  no  farther 
part  in  the  action,  except  a  handful  of  men,  who,  under 
its  gallant  colonel,  Bowles,  joined  the  Mississippi  regi 
ment,  and  did  good  service,  and  those  fugitives  who,  at 
a  later  period  in  the  day,  assisted  in  defending  the  train 
and  depot  at  Buena  Vista.  This  portion  of  our  line 
having  given  way,  and  the  enemy  appearing  in  over- 


TAYLOR.  153 

whelming  force  against  our  left  flank,  the  light  troops 
which  had  rendered  such  good  service  on  the  mountain 
were  compelled  to  withdraw,  which  they  did,  for  the 
most  part,  in  good  order.  Many,  however,  were  not 
rallied  until  they  reached  the  depot  at  Buena  Vista,  to 
the  defence  of  which  they  afterward  contributed. 

Colonel  BisselPs  regiment  (2d  Illinois),  which  had 
been  joined  by  a  section  of  Captain  Sherman's  battery, 
had  become  completely  outflanked,  and  was  compelled 
to  fall  back,  being  entirely  unsupported.  The  enemy 
was  now  pouring  masses  of  infantry  and  cavalry  along 
the  base  of  the  mountain  on  our  left,  and  was  gaining 
our  rear  in  great  force.  At  this  moment  I  arrived 
upon  the  field.  The  Mississippi  regiment  had  been 
directed  to  the  left  before  reaching  the  position,  and 
immediately  came  into  action  against  the  Mexican 
infantry  which  had  turned  our  flank.  The2d  Kentucky 
regiment  and  a  section  of  artillery  under  Captain  Bragg, 
had  previously  been  ordered  from  the  right  to  reinforce 
our  left,  and  arrived  at  a  most  opportune  moment. 
That  regiment,  and  a  portion  of  the  1st  Illinois,  under 
Colonel  Harden,  gallantry  drove  the  enemy,  and  re 
covered  a  portion  of  the  ground  we  had  lost.  The 
batteries  of  Captains  Sherman  and  Bragg  were  in 
position  on  the  plateau,  and  did  much  execution,  not 
only  in  front,  but  particularly  upon  the  masses  which 
had  gained  our  rear.  Discovering  that  the  enemy  was 
heavily  pressing  upon  the  Mississippi  regiment,  the  3d 
Indiana  regiment,  under  Colonel  Lane,  was  despatched 
to  strengthen  that  part  of  our  line,  which  formed  a 
crotchet  perpendicular  to  the  first  line  of  battle.  At 
the  same  time  Lieutenant  Kilburn,  with  a  piece  of 
Captain  Bragg's  battery,  was  directed  to  support  the 
infantry  there  engaged.  The  action  was  for  a  long 


154 


TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 


time  warmly  sustained  at  that  point — the  enemy  making 
several  efforts  both  with  infantry  and  cavalry  against 
our  line,  and  being  always  repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  I 
had  placed  all  the  regular  cavalry  and  Captain  Pike's 
squadron  of  Arkansas  horse  under  the  orders  of  Brevet 
Lieutenant-Colonel  TVIay,  with  directions  to  hold  in 
check  the  enemy's  column,  still  advancing  to  the  rear 
along  the  base  of  the  mountain,  which  was  done  in  con 
junction  with  the  Kentucky  and  Arkansas  cavalry  under 
Colonels  Marshall  and  Yell. 

In  the  mean  time  our  left,  which  was  still  strongly 
threatened  by  a  superior  force,  was  farther  strengthened 
by  the  detachment  of  Captain  Bragg's,  and  a  portion 
of  Captain  Sherman's  batteries  to  that  quarter.  The 
concentration  df  artillery  fire  upon  the  masses  of  the 
enemy  along  the  base  of  the  mountain,  and  the  deter 
mined  resistance  offered  by  the  two  regiments  opposed 
to  them,  had  created  confusion  in  their  ranks,  and  some 
of  the  corps  attempted  to  effect  a  retreat  upon  their 
main  line  of  battle.  The  squadron  of  the  1st  dragoons, 
under  Lieutenant  Rucker,  was  now  ordered  up  the  deep 
ravine  which  these  retreating  corps  were  endeavouring 
to  cross,  in  order  to  charge  and  disperse  them.  The 
squadron  proceeded  to  the  point  indicated,  but  could  not 
accomplish  the  object,  being  exposed  to  a  heavy  fire 
from  a  battery  established  to  cover  the  retreat  of  those 
corps.  While  the  squadron  was  detached  on  this  service, 
a  large  body  of  the  enemy  was  observed  to  concentrate 
on  our  extreme  left,  apparently  with  the  view  of  making 
a  descent  upon  the  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista,  where  our 
train  and  baggage  were  deposited.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
May  was  ordered  to  the  support  of  that  point,  with  two 
pieces  of  Captain  Sherman's  battery  under  Lieutenant 
Reynolds.  In  the  mean  time,  the  scattered  forces  near 


TAYL.OR.  155 

the  hacienda,  composed  in  part  of  Majors  Trail  and  Gor 
man's  commands,  had  been  to  some  extent  organized  under 
the  advice  of  Major  Monroe,  chief  of  artillery,  with  the 
assistance  of  Major  Morrison,  volunteer  staff,  and  were 
posted  to  defend  the  position.  Before  our  cavalry  had 
reached  the  hacienda,  that  of  the  enemy  had  made  its 
attack ;  having  been  handsomely  met  by  the  Kentucky 
and  Arkansas  cavalry  under  Colonels  Marshall  and  Yell. 
The  Mexican  column  immediately  divided,  one  portion 
sweeping  by  the  depot,  where  it  received  a  destructive 
lire  from  the  force  which  had  collected  there,  and  then 
gaining  the  mountain  opposite,  under  a  fire  from  Lieu 
tenant  Reynolds's  section,  the  remaining  portion  regaining 
the  base  of  the  mountain  on  our  left.  In  the  charge  at 
Buena  Vista,  Colonel  Yell  fell  gallantly  at  the  head  of  his 
regiment ;  we  also  lost  Adjutant  Vaughan,  of  the  Ken 
tucky  cavalry — a  young  officer  of  much  promise.  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  May,  who  had  been  rejoined  by  the  squad 
ron  of  the  1st  dragoons  and  by  portions  of  the  Arkansas 
and  Indiana  troops,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Roane  and 
Major  Gorman,  now  approached  the  base  of  the  mountain, 
holding  in  check  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  upon  whose 
masses,  crowded  in  the  narrow  gorges  and  ravines,  our 
artillery  was  doing  fearful  execution. 

The  position  of  that  .portion  of  the  Mexican  army 
which  had  gained  our  rear  was  now  very  critical,  and  it 
seemed  doubtful  whether  it  could  regain  the  main  body. 
At  this  moment  I  received  from  General  Santa  Anna  a 
message  by  a  staff  officer,  desiring  to  know  what  I 
wanted?  I  immediately  despatched  Brigadier-General 
Wool  to  the  Mexican  general-in-chief,  and  sent  orders 
to  cease  firing.  Upon  reaching  the  Mexican  lines  Ge 
neral  Wool  could  not  cause  the  enemy  to  cease  their  fire, 
and  accordingly  returned  without  having  an  interview. 


156  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GLNKRALS. 

The  extreme  right  of  the 'enemy  continued  its  retreat 
along  the  base  of  the  mountain,  and  finally,  in  spite  of 
all  our  efforts,  effected  a  junction  with  the  remainder 
of  the  army. 

During  the  day,  the  cavalry  of  General  Mirion  had 
ascended  the  elevated  plain  above  Saltillo,  and  occupied 
the  road  from  the  city  to  the  field  of  battle,  where  they 
intercepted  several  of  our  men.  Approaching  the  town, 
they  were  fired  upon  by  Captain  Webster  from  the  re 
doubt  occupied  by  his  company,  and  then  moved  off 
towards  the  eastern  side  of  the  valley,  and  obliquely 
towards  Buena  Vista.  At  this  time,  Captain  Shover 
moved  rapidly  forward  with  his  piece,  supported  by  a 
miscellaneous  command  of  mounted  volunteers,  and 
fired  several  shots  at  the  cavalry  with  great  effect.  They 
were  driven  into  the  ravines  which  lead  to  the  lower 
valley,  closely  pursued  by  Captain  Shover,  who  was 
farther  supported  by  a  piece  of  Captain  Webster's  bat 
tery,  under  Lieutenant  Donaldson,  which  had  advanced 
from  the  redoubt,  supported  by  Captain  Wheeler's  com 
pany  of  Illinois  volunteers.  The  enemy  made  one  or  two 
efforts  to  charge  the  artillery,  but  was  finally  driven  back 
in  a  confused  mass,  and  did  not  again  appear  upon  the 
plain. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  firing  had  partially  ceased  upon 
the  principal  field.  The  enemy  seemed  to  confine  his 
efforts  to  the  protection  of  his  artillery,  and  I  had  left 
the  plateau  for  a  moment,  when  I  was  recalled  thither  by 
a  very  heavy  musketry  fire.  On  regaining  that  position, 
I  discovered  that  our  infantry  (Illinois  and  2d  Kentucky) 
had  engaged  a  greatly  superior  force  of  the  enemy — evi 
dently  his  reserve — and  that  they  had  been  overwhelmed 
by  numbers.  The  moment  was  most  critical.  Captain 
O'Brien,  with  two  pieces,  had  sustained  this  heavy  charge 


TAYLOR.  157 

to  the  last,  and  was  finally  obliged  to  leave  his  guns  on 
the  field — his  infantry  support  being  entirely  routed. 
Captain  Bragg,  who  had  just  arrived  from  the  left,  was 
ordered  at  once  into  battery.  Without  any  infantry 
to  support  him,  and  at  the  imminent  risk  of  losing  his 
guns,  this  officer  came  rapidly  into  action,  the  Mexican 
line  being  but  a  few  yards  from  the  muzzle  of  his 
pieces.  The  first  discharge  of  canister  caused  the  enemy 
to  hesitate,  the  second  and  third  drove  him  back  in  dis 
order,  and  saved  the  day.  The  2d  Kentucky  regiment, 
which  had  advanced  beyond  supporting  distance  in  this 
affair,  was  driven  back  and  closely  pressed  by  the  ene 
my's  cavalry.  Taking  a  ravine  which  led  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Captain  Washington's  battery,  their  pursuers 
became  exposed  to  his  fire,  which  soon  checked  and 
drove  them  back  with  loss.  In  the  mean  time  the  rest 
of  our  artillery  had  taken  position  on  the  plateau,  covered 
by  the  Mississippi  and  3d  Indiana  regiments,  the  former 
of  which  had  reached  the  ground  in.  time  to  pour  a  fire 
into  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  and  thus  contribute  to 
his  repulse.  In  this  last  conflict  we  had  the  misfortune 
to  sustain  a  very  heavy  loss.  Colonel  Hardin,  1  st  Illinois, 
and  Colonel  McKee  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Clay,  2d 
Kentucky  regiment,  fell  at  this  time  while  gallantly  lead 
ing  their  commands. 

No  farther  attempt  was  made  by  the  enemy  to  force 
our  position,  and  the  approach  of  night  gave  an  oppor 
tunity  to  pay  proper  attention  to  the  wounded,  and  also 
to  refresh  the  soldiers,  who  had  been  exhausted  by  inces 
sant  watchfulness  and  combat.  Though  the  night  was 
severely  cold,  the  troops  were  compelled  for  the  most  to 
bivouac  without,  fires,  expecting  that  morning  would 
renew  the  conflict.  During  the  night  the  wounded  were 
removed  to  Saltillo,  and  every  preparation  made  to  receive 


158  TAYLOll  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

the  enemy,  should  he  again  attack  our  position.  Seven 
fresh  companies  were  drawn  from  the  town,  and  Briga 
dier-General  Marshall,  with  a  reinforcement  of  Kentucky 
cavalry  and  four  heavy  guns,  under  Captain  Prentiss,  1st 
artillery,  was  near  at  hand,  when  it  was  discovered  that 
the  enemy  had  abandoned  his  position  during  the  night. 
Our  scouts  soon  ascertained  that  he  had  fallen  back  upon 
Agua  Nueva.  The  great  disparity  of  numbers,  and  the 
exhaustion  of  our  troops,  rendered  it  inexpedient  and 
hazardous  to  attempt  pursuit.  A  staff  officer  was  des 
patched  10  General  Santa  Anna  to  negotiate  an  exchange 
of  prisoners,  which  was  satisfactorily  completed  on  the 
following  day.  Our  own  dead  were  collected  and 
buried,  and  the  Mexican  wounded,  of  which  a  large 
number  had  been  left  upon  the  field,  were  removed  to 
Saltillo,  and  rendered  as  comfortable  as  circumstances 
would  permit. 

On  the  evening  of  the  26th,  a  close  reconnoissance 
was  made  of  the  enemy's  position,  which  was  found  to- 
be  occupied  only  by  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  the  infan 
try  and  artillery  having  retreated  in  the  direction  of  Sari 
Luis  Potosi.  On  the  27th,  our  troops  resumed  their 
former  camp  at  Agua  Nueva,  the  enemy's  rear-guard 
evacuating  the  place  as  we  approached,  leaving  a  con 
siderable  number  of  wounded.  It  was  my  purpose  to 
beat  up  his  quarters  at  Encarnacion  early  the  next  morn 
ing,  but  upon  examination,  the  weak  condition  of  the 
cavalry  horses  rendered  it  unadvisable  to  attempt  so  long 
a  march  without  water.  A  command  was  finally  dis 
patched  to  Encarnacion,  on  the  1st  of  March,  under 
Colonel  Belknap.  Some  two  hundred  v;ounded,  and 
about  sixty  Mexican  soldiers  were  found  there,  the  army 
having  passed  on  in  the  direction  of  Matehuala,  with 
greatly  reduced  numbers,  and  suffering  much  from 


TAYLOR.  159 

hunger.  The  dead  and  dying  were  strewed  upon  the 
road  and  crowded  the  buildings  of  the  hacienda. 

The  American  force  engaged  in  the  action  of  Buena 
Vista  is  shown,  by  the  accompanying  field  report,  to  have 
been  334  officers,  and  4425  men,  exclusive  of  the  small 
command  left  in  and  near  Saltillo.  Of  this  number,  two 
squadrons  of  cavalry  and  three  batteries  of  light  artillery, 
making  not  more  than  453  men,  composed  the  only  force 
of  regular  troops.  The  strength  of  the  Mexican  army 
is  stated  by  General  Santa  Anna,  in  his  summons,  to  be 
20,000 ;  and  that  estimate  is  confirmed  by  all  the  in 
formation  since  obtained.  Our  loss  is  267  killed,  456 
wounded,  and  23  missing.  Of  the  numerous  wounded, 
many  did  not  require  removal  to  the  hospital,  and  it  is 
hoped  that  a  comparatively  small  number  will  be  perma 
nently  disabled.  The  Mexican  loss  in  killed  and  wounded 
may  be  fairly  estimated  at  1500,  and  will  probably  reach 
2000.  At  least  500  of  their  killed  were  left  upon  the 
field  of  battle.  We  have  no  means  of  ascertaining  the 
number  of  deserters  and  dispersed  men  from  their  ranks, 
but  it  is  known  to  be  very  great. 

Our  loss  has  been  especially  severe  in  officers.,  twenty- 
eight  having  been  killed  upon  the  field.  We  have  to 
lament  the  death  of  Captain  George  Lincoln,  Assistant 
Adjutant-General,  serving  in  the  staff  of  General  Wool 
— a  young  officer  of  high  bearing  and  approved  gallantry, 
who  fell  early  in  the  action.  No  loss  falls  more  heavily 
upon  the  army  in  the  field  than  that  of  Colonels  Hardin 
and  McKee,  ana  Lieutenant-Colonel  Clay.  Possessing 
in  a  remarkable  degree  the  confidence  of  their  commands, 
and  the  last  two  having  enjoyed  the  advantage  of  a 
military  education,  I  had  looked  particularly  to  them  for 
support  in  case  we  met  the  enemy.  I  need  not  say  that 
their  zeal  in  engaging  the  enemy,  and  the  cool  and 


160  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

steadfast  courage  with  which  they  maintained  their  po 
sitions  during  the  day,  fully  realized  my  hopes,  and 
caused  me  to  feel  yet  more  sensibly  their  untimely  loss. 

I  perform  a  grateful  duty  in  bringing  to  the  notice  of 
the  government  the  general  good  conduct  of  the  troops. 
Exposed  for  successive  nights,  without  fires,  to  the  se 
verity  of  the  weather,  they  were  ever  prompt  and  cheer 
ful  in  the  discharge  of  every  duty ;  and  finally  displayed 
conspicuous  steadiness  and  gallantry  in  repulsing,  at 
great  odds,  a  disciplined  foe.  While  the  brilliant  success 
achieved  by  their  arms  releases  me  from  the  painful 
necessity  of  specifying  many  cases  of  bad  conduct 
before  the  enemy,  I  feel  an  increased  obligation  to  men 
tion  particular  corps  and  officers,  whose  skill,  coolness, 
and  gallantry  in  trying  situations,  and  under  a  continued 
and  heavy  fire,  seem  to  merit  particular  notice. 

To  Brigadier-General  Wool  my  obligations  are  es 
pecially  due.  The  high  state  of  discipline  and  instruc 
tion  of  several  of  the  volunteer  regiments  was  attained 
under  his  command,  and  to  his  vigilance  and  arduous 
service  before  the  action,  and  his  gallantry  and  activity 
on  the  field,  a  large  share  of  our  success  may  justly  be 
attributed.  During  most  of  the  engagement  he  was  in 
immediate  command  of  the  troops  thrown  back  on  our 
left  flank.  I  beg  leave  to  recommend  him  to  the  favour 
able  notice  of  the  government.  Brigadier-General  Lane 
(slightly  wounded)  was  active  and  zealous  throughout 
the  day,  and  displayed  great  coolness  and  gallantry  be 
fore  the  enemy. 

The  services  of  the  light  artillery,  always  conspicu 
ous,  were  more  than  usually  distinguished.  Moving 
rapidly  over  the  roughest  ground,  it  was  always  in  ac 
tion  at  the  right  place  and  the  right  time,  and  its  well- 
directed  fire  dealt  destruction  in  the  masses  of  the  enemy. 


TAYLOR.  1(J1 

While  I  recommend  to  particular  favour  the  gallant  con 
duct  and  valuable  services  of  Major  Munroe,  chief  of 
artillery,  and  Captains  Washington,  4th  artillery,  and 
Sherman  and  Bragg,  3d  artillery,  commanding  batteries, 
I  deem  it  no  more  than  just  to  mention  all  the  subaltern 
officers.  They  were  nearly  all  detached  at  different 
times,  and  in  every  situation  exhibited  conspicuous  skill 
and  gallantry.  Captain  O'Brien,  Lieutenants  Brent, 
Whiting,  and  Couch,  4th  artillery,  and  Bryan,  Topo 
graphical  Engineers  (slightly  wounded),  were  attached 
to  Captain  Washington's  battery.  Lieutenants  Thomas, 
Reynolds,  and  French,  3d  artillery  (severely  wounded), 
to  that  of  Captain  Sherman ;  and  Captain  Shover  and 
Lieutenant  Kilburn,  3d  artillery,  to  that  of  Captain 
Bragg.  Captain  Shover,  in  conjunction  with  Lieutenant 
Donaldson,  1st  artillery,  rendered  gallant  and  important 
service  in  repulsing  the  cavalry  of  General  Minon.  The 
regular  cavalry,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  May,  with 
which  was  associated  Captain  Pike's  squadron  of  Ar 
kansas  horse,  rendered  useful  service  in  holding  the 
enemy  in  check  and  in  covering  the  batteries  at  several 
points.  Captain  Steen,  1st  dragoons,  was  severely 
wounded  early  in  the  day,  while  gallantly  endeavouring, 
with  my  authority,  to  rally  the  troops  which  were  fall 
ing  to  the  rear. 

The  Mississippi  riflemen,  under  Colonel  Davis,  were 
highly  conspicuous  for  their  gallantry  and  steadiness,  and 
sustained  throughout  the  engagement  the  reputation  of 
veteran  troops.  Brought  into  action  against  an  im 
mensely  superior  force,  they  maintained  themselves  for 
a  long  time  unsupported  and  with  heavy  loss,  and  held 
an  important  part  of  the  field  until  reinforced.  Colonel 
Davis,  though  severely  wounded,  remained  in  the  saddle 
until  the  close  of  the  action.  His  distinguished  cool- 


162  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

ness  and  gallantry  at  the  head  of  his  regiment  on  this 
day  entitle  him  to  the  particular  notice  of  the  govern 
ment.  The  3d  Indiana  regiment,  under  Colonel  Lane, 
and  a  fragment  of  the  2d,  under  Colonel  Bowles,  were 
associated  with  the  Mississippi  regiment  Curing  the 
greater  portion  of  the  day,  and  acquitted  themselves 
creditably  in  repulsing  the  attempts  of  the  enemy  to 
break  that  portion  of  our  line.  The  Kentucky  cavalry, 
under  Colonel  Marshall,  rendered  good  service  dis 
mounted,  acting  as  light  troops  on  our  left,  and 
afterward,  with  a  portion  of  the  Arkansas  regiment,  in 
meeting  and  dispersing  the  column  of  cavalry  at  Buena 
Vista.  The  1st  and  2d  Illinois,  and  the  2d  Kentucky 
regiments,  served  immediately  under  my  eye,  and  I  bear 
a  willing  testimony  to  their  excellent  conduct  throughout 
the  day.  The  spirit  and  gallantry  with  which  the  1st 
Illinois  and  2d  Kentucky  engaged  the  enemy  in  the 
morning,  restored  confidence  to  that  part  of  the  field, 
while  the  list  of  casualties  will  show  how  much  these 
three  regiments  suffered  in  sustaining  the  heavy  charge 
of  the  enemy  in  the  afternoon.  Captain  Conner's 
company  of  Texas  volunteers,  attached  to  the  2d 
Illinois  regiment,  fought  bravely,  its  captain  being 
wounded  and  two  subalterns  killed.  Colonel  Bissell, 
the  only  surviving  colonel  of  these  regiments,  merits 
notice  for  his  coolness  and  bravery  on  this  occasion. 
After  the  fall  of  the  field-officers  of  the  1st  Illinois 
and  2d  Kentucky  regiments,  the  command  of  the 
former  devolved  upon  Lieutenant-Colonel  Weatherford  ; 
that  of  the  latter  upon  Major  Fry. 

Regimental  commanders  and  others  who  have  ren 
dered  reports,  speak  in  general  terms  of  the  good  con 
duct  of  their  officers  and  men,  and  have  specified  many 
names,  but  the  limits  of  this  report  forbid  a  recapitulation 


TAYLOR.  163 

of  them  here.  1  may,  however,  mention  Lieutenants 
Rucker  and  Campbell  of  the  dragoons,  and  Captain  Pike, 
Arkansas  cavalry,  commanding  squadrons ;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Field,  Kentucky  cavalry;  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Roane,  Arkansas  cavalry,  upon  whom  the  command  de 
volved  after  the  fall  of  Colonel  Yell ;  Major  Bradford, 
Captain  Sharpe  (severely  wounded),  and  Adjutant  Grif 
fith,  Mississippi  regiment ;  Lieutenant- Colonel  Hadden, 
2d  Indiana  regiment,  and  Lieutenant  Robinson,  aid-de- 
carnp  to  General  Lane  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Weatherford, 
1st  Illinois  regiment;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Morrison,  Ma 
jor  Trail,  and  Adjutant  Whiteside  (severely  wounded), 
2d  Illinois  regiment;  and  Major  Fry,  2d  Kentucky  regi 
ment,  as  being  favourably  noticed  for  gallantry  and  good 
conduct.  Major  McCulloch,  quartermaster  in  the  volun 
teer  service,  rendered  important  services  before  the  en-' 
gagement,  in  the  command  of  a  spy  company,  and  during 
the  affair  was  associated  with  the  regular  cavalry.  To 
Major  Warren,  1st  Illinois  volunteers,  I  feel  much  in 
debted  for  his  firm  and  judicious  course,  while  exercising 
command  in  the  city  of  Saltillo. 

The  medical  staff,  under  the  able  direction  of  Assist 
ant-Surgeon  Hitchcock,  were  assiduous  in  attention  to 
the  wounded  upon  the  field,  and  in  their  careful  removal 
to  the  rear.  Both  in  these  respects,  and  in  the  subse 
quent  organization  and  service  of  the  hospitals,  the  ad 
ministration  of  this  department  was  everything  that  could 
be  wished. 

Brigadier-General  Wool  speaks  in  high  terms  of  the 
officers  of  his  staff,  and  I  take  pleasure  in  mentioning  them 
here,  having  witnessed  their  activity  and  zeal  upon  the 
field.  Lieutenant  and  Aid-de-camp  McDowell,  Colonel 
Churchill,  inspector-general,  Captain  Chapman,  assist 
ant  quartermaster,  Lieutenant  Sitgreaves,  Topographical 


164  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

Engineers,  and  Captains  Howard  and  Davis,  volunteer 
service,  are  conspicuously  noticed  by  the  general  for 
their  gallantry  and  good  conduct.  Messrs.  March, 
Addicks,  Potts,  Harrison,  Burgess,  and  Dusenbery, 
attached  in  various  capacities  to  General  Wool's  head 
quarters,  are  likewise  mentioned  for  their  intelligent 
alacrity  in  conveying  orders  to  all  parts  of  the  field. 

In  conclusion,  I  beg  leave  to  speak  of  my  own  staff, 
to  whose  exertions  in  rallying  troops  and  communicating 
orders  I  feel  greatly  indebted.  Major  Bliss,  assistant 
adjutant-general,  Captain  J.  H.  Eaton,  and  Lieutenant 
R.  S.  Garnett,  aids-de-camp,  served  near  my  person, 
and  were  prompt  and  zealous  in  the  discharge  of  every 
duty.  Major  Munroe,  beside  rendering  valuable  service 
as  chief  of  artillery,  was  active  and  instrumental,  as 
were  also  Colonels  Churchill  and  Belknap,  inspectors- 
general,  in  rallying  troops  and  disposing  them  for  the 
defence  of  the  train  and  baggage.  Colonel  Whiting, 
quartermaster- general,  and  Captain  Eaton,  chief  of  the 
subsistence  department,  were  engaged  with  the  duties 
of  their  departments  and  also  served  in  my  immediate 
staff'  on  the  field.  Captain  Sibley,  assistant  quarter 
master,  was  necessarily  left  with  the  head-quarter  camp 
near  town,  where  his  services  were  highly  useful.  Ma 
jor  Mansfield  and  Lieutenant  Benham,  Engineers,  and 
Captain  Linnard  and  Lieutenants  Pope  and  Franklin, 
Topographical  Engineers,  were  employed  before  and  du 
ring  the  engagement  in  making  reconnoissances,  and  on 
the  field  were  very  active  in  bringing  information  and  in 
conveying  my  orders  to  distant  points.  Lieutenant 
Kingsbury,  in  addition  to  his  proper  duties  as  ordnance 
officer,  Captain  Chilton,  assistant  quartermaster,  and 
Majors  Dix  and  Coffee,  served  also  as  extra  aids-de- 
camp,  and  were  actively  employed  in  the  transmission 


TAYLOR.  165 

of  orders.  Mr.  Thomas  L.  Crittenden,  of  Kentucky, 
though  not  in  service,  volunteered  as  my  aid-de-camp 
on  this  occasion,  and  served  with  credit  in  that  capacity. 
Major  Craig,  chief  of  ordnance,  and  Surgeon  Craig, 
medical  director,  had  been  detached  on  duty  from  head 
quarters,  and  did  not  reach  the  ground  until  the  morning 
of  the  24th — too  late  to  participate  in  the  action,  but  in 
time  to  render  useful  services  in  their  respective  depart 
ments  of  the  staff. 

I  respectfully  enclose  returns  of  the  troops  engaged, 
and  of  casualties  incident  to  the  battle. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 

Major-  General  U.  S.  Ji.  Commanding. 
The  ADJUTANT  GENERAL  of  the  Army,  ) 
Washington,  D.  C.      ! 

The  following  are  the  summons  of  Santa  Anna  and 
General  Taylor's  answer.  The  latter  has  been  greatly 
admired  for  its  modesty  and  strict  propriety.  There  is 
no  bravado — nothing  like  theatrical  flourish  about  the 
general. 

[TRANSLATION.] 
Summons  of  General  Santa  Anna  to  General  Taylor. 

You  are  surrounded  by  20,000  men,  and  cannot, 
in  any  human  probability,  avoid  suffering  a  rout,  and 
being  cut  to  pieces  with  your  troops  ;  but  as  you  de 
serve  consideration  and  particular  esteem,  I  wish  to  save 
you  from  a  catastrophe,  and  for  that  purpose  give  you 
this  notice,  in  order  that  you  may  surrender  at  discre 
tion,  under  the  assurance  that  you  will  be  treated  with  the 
consideration  belonging  to  the  Mexican  character,  to 
which  end  you  will  be  granted  an  hour's  time  to  make 
up  your  mind,  to  commence  from  the  moment  when  my 
Hag  of  truce  arrives  in  your  camp. 


166  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

With  this  view,  I  assure  you  of  my  particular  conside 
ration,  '-fy't.^ 

God  and  Liberty.  Camp  at  Encantada,  February 
22,  1847. 

ANTONIO  LOPEZ  DE  SANTA  ANNA. 

To  Gen.  Z.  TAYLOR,  j 

Commanding  the  forces  of  the  U.  S.   j 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMY  or  OCCUPATION,  j 
Near  Buena  Vista,  February  22,  1847.  j 
.  SIR:  In  reply  to  your  note  of  this  date,  summoning 
me  to  surrender  my  forces  at  discretion,  I  beg  leave  to 
say  that  I  decline  acceding  to  your  request. 
With  high  respect,  I  am,  sir, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 

Major- General  U.  S.  Army,  Commanding. 
Senor  Gen.  D.  ANTONIO  LOPEZ  DE  SANTA  ANNA,  \ 
Commander-in-Chief,  La  Encantada.  J 

The  following  description  of  the  battle  of  Buena 
Vista,  is  from  the  pen  of  a  gentleman  who  was  present 
and  shared  in  the  dangers  and  labours  of  this  tremen 
dous  encounter.  Its  details  of  personal  matters  will 
serve  to  fill  up  the  general  outline  of  the  official  account. 

CAMP  AT  BUENA  VISTA,      \ 
February  24,  1847.  ) 

MESSRS.  EDITORS: — On  the  morning  of  the  22d,  intel 
ligence  reached  General  Taylor,  at  his  camp  on  the  hill 
overlooking  Saltillo  from  the  south,  that  Santa  Anna, 
whose  presence  in  our  vicinity  had  been  reported  for 
several  days,  was  advancing  upon  our  main  body, 
stationed  near  the  rancho  Sancho  Juan  de  Buena  Vista, 
about  seven  miles  from  Saltillo.  The  general  imme 
diately  moved  forward  with  May's  squadron  of  dragoons, 


TAYLOR.  167 

Sherman's  and  Bragg's  batteries  of  artillery,  and  the 
Mississippi  regiment  of  riflemen,  under  Colonel  Davis,  and 
arrived  at  the  position  which  he  had  selected  for  awaiting 
the  attack  of  the  enemy,  about  eleven  o'clock.  The  time 
and  the  place,  the  hour  and  the  man,  seemed  to  promise  a 
glorious  celebration  of  the  day.  It  was  the  22d  of 
February,  the  anniversary  of  that  day  on  which  the  God 
of  battles  gave  to  freedom  its  noblest  champion,  to  pa 
triotism  its  purest  model,  to  America  a  preserver,  and  to 
the  world  the  nearest  realization  of  human  perfection — 
for  panegyric  sinks  before  the  name  of  Washington. 

The  morning  was  bright  and  beautiful.  Not  a  cloud 
floated  athwart  the  firmament  or  dimmed  the  azure  of 
the  sky ;  and  the  flood  of  golden  radiance  which  gilded 
the  mountain  tops  and  poured  over  the  valleys,  wrought 
light  and  shade  into  a  thousand  fantastic  forms.  A  soft 
breeze  swept  down  from  the  mountains,  rolling  into 
graceful  undulation  the  banner  of  the  republic,  which 
was  proudly  streaming  from  the  flag-staff  of  the  fort, 
and  from  the  towers  and  battlements  of  Saltillo.  The 
omens  were  all  in  our  favour. 

In  the  choice  of  his  position,  General  Taylor  had  exhi 
bited  the  same  comprehensive  sagacity  and  masterly  coup 
d'ceil  which  characterized  his  dispositions  at  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  and  which  crowned  triumphantly  all  his  operations 
amid  the  blazing  lines  of  Monterey.  The  mountains 
rise  on  either  side  of  an  irregular  and  broken  valley, 
about  three  miles  in  width,  dotted  over  with  hills  and 
ridges,  and  scarred  with  broad  and  winding  ravines. 
The  main  road  lies  along  the  course  of  an  arroyo,  the 
bed  of  which  is  now  so  deep  as  to  form  an  almost  impass 
able  barrier,  while  the  other  side  is  bounded  by  precipi 
tous  elevations,  stretching  perpendicularly  towards  the 

mountains,  and  separated  by  broad  gullies,  until  they 
11 


168  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

mingle  into  one  at  the  base  of  the  principal  range.  On 
the  right  of  the  narrowest  point  of  the  roadway,  a  bat 
talion  of  the  1st  Illinois  regiment,  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Weatherford,  was  stationed  in  a  small  trench 
extending  to  the  natural  ravine,  while,  on  the  opposite 
height,  the  main  body  of  the  regiment  under  Colonel 
Hardin  was  posted,  with  a  single  piece  of  artillery  from 
Captain  Washington's  battery.  The  post  of  honour  on 
the  extreme  right  was  assigned  to  Bragg's  artillery,  his 
left  supported  by  the  2d  regiment  of  Kentucky  foot,  under 
Colonel  McKee,  the  left  flank  of  which  rested  upon  the 
arroyo.  Washington's  battery  occupied  a  position  im 
mediately  in  front  of  the  narrow  point  of  the  roadway,  in 
rear  of  which,  and  somewhat  to  the  left,  on  another 
height,  the  2d  Illinois  regiment,  under  Colonel  Bissel, 
was  posted.  Next  on  the  left,  the  Indiana  brigade 
under  General  Lane  was  deployed,  while  on  the  extreme 
left  the  Kentucky  cavalry,  under  Colonel  Marshall, 
occupied  a  position  directly  under  the  frowning  summits 
of  the  mountains.  The  two  squadrons  of  the  1st  and  2d 
dragoons,  and  the  Arkansas  cavalry,  under  Colonel  Yell, 
were  posted  in  the  rear,  ready  for  any  service  which  the 
exigencies  of  the  day  might  require. 

These  dispositions  had  been  made  for  some  time,  whew 
the  enemy  was  seen  advancing  in  the  distance,  and  the 
clouds  of  dust  which  rolled  up  before  him,  gave  satisfac 
tory  evidence  that  his  numbers  were  not  unworthy  the 
trial  of  strength  upon  which  we  were  about  to  enter. 
He  arrived  upon  his  position  in  immense  numbers,  and 
with  force  sufficiently  numerous  to  have  commenced  his 
attack  at  once,  had  he  been  as  confident  of  success  as  it 
subsequently  appeared  he  was  solicitous  for  our  safety. 
The  first  evidence  directly  afforded  us  of  the  presence  of 
Santa  Anna  was  a  white  flag,  which  was  dimly  seen 


TAYLOR.  169 

fluttering  in  the  breeze,  and*  anon  Surgeon-General  Lin- 
denberg,  of  the  Mexican  army,  arrived,  bearing  a  beau 
tiful  emblem  of  benevolent  bravado  and  Christian  charity. 
It  was  a  missive  from  Santa  Anna,  suggested  by  consid 
erations  for  our  personal  comfort,  which  has  placed  us 
under  lasting  obligations,  proposing  to  General  Taylor 
terms  of  unconditional  surrender,  promising  good  treat 
ment  ;  assuring  us  his  force  amounted  to  upwards  of 
20,000  men,  that  our  defeat  was  inevitable,  and  that,  to 
spare  the  effusion  of  blood,  his  proposition  should  be 
complied  with.  Strange  to  say,  the  American  general 
showed  the  greatest  ingratitude,  evinced  no  appreciation 
whatever  of  Santa  Anna's  kindness,  and  informed  him  that 
whether  his  force  amounted  to  20,000  or  50,000,  it  was 
equally  a  matter  of  indifference  ;  the  terms  of  adjustment 
must  be  arranged  by  gunpowder. 

The  messenger  returned  to  his  employer,  and  we 
watched  in  silence  to  hear  the  roar  of  his  artillery. 
Hours  rolled  by  without  any  movement  on  his  part ;  and 
it  appeared  that  the  Mexican  commander,  grieved  at  our 
stubbornness,  was  almost  disposed  to  retrace  his  steps, 
as  if  determined  to  have  no  further  intercourse  with  such 
ungrateful  audacity.  At  length  he  mustered  resolution 
to  open  a  fire  from  a  mortar,  throwing  several  shells  into 
our  camp,  without  execution.  While  this  was  going  on, 
Captain  Steen,  of  the  1st  dragoons,  with  a  single  man, 
started  toward  a  hill,  on  which  the  Mexican  general 
seemed  to  be  stationed  with  his  staff,  but  before  he 
completed  the  ascent  the  party  vanished,  and  when  he 
reached  the  top  he  discovered  that  two  regiments  had 
thrown  themselves  into  squares  to  resist  the  charge. 
The  captain's  gravity  was  overcome  by  this  opposition, 
and  he  returned. 

Just  before  dark,  a  number  of  Santa  Anna's  infantry 


170  TAYLOR  AND  MIS  GENERALS. 

had  succeeded  in  getting  a  position  high  up  the  moun 
tains  on  our  left,  from  which  they  could  make  a  noise 
without  exposing  themselves  to  much  danger,  and  at  a 
distance  of  three  hundred  yards  opened  a  most  tremen 
dous  fire  upon  Colonel  Marshall's  regiment.  This  was 
returned  by  two  of  his  companies,  which  were  dismount 
ed  and  detached  for  the  purpose,  as  soon  as  they  could 
arrive  within  a  neighbourly  range.  The  skirmishing 
continued  till  after  dark,  with  no  result  to  us,  save  the 
wounding  of  three  men  very  slightly. 

During  the  night,  a  Mexican  prisoner  was  taken,  who 
reported  Santa  Anna's  force  as  consisting  of  fifteen  pieces 
of  artillery,  including  some  24-pounders,  6000  cavalry, 
and  15,000  infantry — thus  confirming  the  statement  of 
his  superior.  The  firing  on  our  extreme  left,  which 
ceased  soon  after  sunset  on  the  22d,  was  renewed  on  the 
morning  of  the  23d,  at  an  early  hour.  This  was  also 
accompanied  by  quick  discharges  of  artillery  from  the 
same  quarter,  the  Mexicans  having  established  during 
the  night  a  twelve-pounder  on  a  point  at  the  base  of  the 
mountain,  which  commanded  any  position  which  could 
be  taken  by  us.  To  counteract  the  effect  of  this  piece, 
Lieutenant  O'Brien,  4th  artillery,  was  detached  with 
three  pieces  of  Washington's  battery,  having  with  him 
Lieutenant  Bryan,  of  the  topograpoical  engineers,  who, 
having  planted  a  few  shells  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy's 
gunners,  for  the  time  effectually  silenced  his  fire. 

From  the  movements  soon  perceptible  along  the  left 
of  our  line,  it  became  evident  that  the  enemy  was 
attempting  to  turn  that  flank,  and  for  that  purpose  had 
concentrated  a  large  body  of  cavalry  and  infantry  on  his 
right.  The  base  of  the  mountain  around  which  these 
troops  were  winding  their  way,  seemed  girdled  with  a 
belt  of  steel,  as  their  glittering  sabres  and  polished  lances 


TAYLOR.  171 

flashed  back  the  beams  of  the  morning  sun.  Sherman's 
and  Bragg's  batteries  were  immediately  ordered  to  the 
left;  Colonel  Bissell's  regiment  occupied  a  position  be 
tween  them,  while  Colonel  McKee's  Kentuckians  were 
transferred  from  the  right  of  our  line,  so  as  to  hold  a 
position  near  the  centre. 

The  2d  Indiana  regiment,  under  Colonel  Bowles, 
was  placed  on  our  extreme  left,  nearly  perpendicular  to 
the  direction  of  our  line,  so  as  to  oppose,  by  a  direct 
fire,  the  flank  movement  of  the  enemy.  These  disposi 
tions  having  been  promptly  effected,  the  artillery  of  both 
armies  opened  their  fires,  and  simultaneously  the  Mexican 
infantry  commenced  a  rapid  and  extended  discharge  upon 
our  line,  from  the  left  to  McKee's  regiment.  Our  artil 
lery  belched  forth  its  thunders  with  tremendous  effect, 
while  the  Kentuckians  returned  the  fire  of  the  Mexican 
infantry  with  great  steadiness  and  success ;  their  field 
officers,  McKee,  Clay,  and  Fry,  passing  along  their  line, 
animating  and  encouraging  the  men  by  precept  and  ex 
ample. 

The  2d  Illinois  regiment  also  received  the  enemy's 
fire  with  great  firmness,  and  returned  an  ample  equiva 
lent.  While  this  fierce  conflict  was  going  on,  the  main 
body  of  Colonel  Hardin's  regiment  moved  to  the  right 
of  the  Kentuckians,  and  the  representatives  of  each  state 
seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  in  the  honourable  ambition 
of  doing  the  best  service  for  their  country.  Both  regi 
ments  gallantly  sustained  their  positions,  and  won  unfad 
ing  laurels.  The  veterans  of  Austerlitz  could  not  have 
exhibited  more  courage,  coolness,  and  devotion. 

In  the  mean  time  the  enemy's  cavalry  had  been 
stealthily  pursuing  its  way  along  the  mountain,  and 
though  our  artillery  had  wrought  great  havoc  among  its 
numbers,  the  leading  squadrons  had  passed  the  extreme 


172          TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

points  of  danger,  and  was  almost  in  position  to  attack 
his  rear.  At  this  critical  moment  *  *  *  * 
Several  officers  of  General  Taylor's 
staff  immediately  dashed  off,  to  arrest,  if  possible,  the 
retreating  regiment.  Major  Dix,  of  the 

pay  department,  formerly  of  the  7th  infantry,        * 
and  seizing  the  colours  of  the  regiment,  appealed  to  the 
men  to  know  whether  they  had  determined  to  desert 
them.     He  was  answered  by  three  cheers,  showing  that 
they  were  not  unmindful  of  an  act  of 
distinguished  gallantry  on  the  part  of  another.     A  por 
tion  of  the  regiment  immediately  rallied  around  him,  and 
was  reformed  by  the  officers.     Dix,  in  person,  then  led 
them  towards  the  enemy,  until  one  of  the  men  volun 
teered  to  take  the  flag.     The  party  returned  to  the  field. 

While  the  day,  however, 

by  this  disgraceful  panic,  was  fast  going  against  us,  the 
artillery  was  advanced,  its  front  extended,  and  different 
sections  and  pieces  under  Sherman,  Bragg,  O'Brien, 
Thomas,  Reynolds,  Kilburn,  French,  and  Bryan,  were 
working  such  carnage  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy  as  to 
make  his  columns  roll  to  and  fro  like  ships  upon  the 
billows.  His  triumph  at  the  Indiana  retreat  was  but  a 
moment,  and  his  shouts  of  joy  were  soon  followed  by 
groans  of  anguish,  and  shrieks  of  expiring  hundreds. 

Washington's  battery  on  the  right  had  now  opened  its 
fire,  and  driven  back  a  large  party  of  lancers,  advancing 
in  that  direction.  Along  the  entire  line  the  battle  raged 
with  great  fury.  Twenty-one  thousand  of  the  victims 
of  Mexican  oppression  and  the  myrmidons  of  Mexican 
despotism  were  arrayed  against  five  thousand  Americans, 
sent  forth  to  conquer  a  peace.  The  discharges  of  the 
infantry  followed  each  other  more  rapidly  than  the  sounds 
of  the  Swiss  bell-ringers  in  the  fierce  fervour  of  a  finale, 


TAYLOR.  173 

and  the  volleys  of  artillery  reverberated  through  the 
mountains^like  the  thunders  of  an  Alpine  storm. 

The  myriads  of  Mexican  cavalry  still  pressed  forward 
on  our  left,  and  threatened  a  charge  upon  the  Mississippi 
rifles,  under  Colonel  Davis,  who  had  been  ordered  to 
support  the  Indiana  regiment. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  Colonel  Davis 
immediately  threwr  his  command  into  the  form  of  a  V,  the 
opening  towards  the  enemy,  and  awaited  his  advance. 
On  he  came,  dashing  with  all  the  speed  of  Mexican 
horses,  but  when  he  arrived  at  that  point  from  which 
could  be  seen  the  whites  of  his  eyes,  both  lines  poured 
forth  a  sheet  of  lead  that  scattered  him  like  chaff,  felling 
many  a  gallant  steed  to  the  earth,  and  sending  scores  of 
riders  to  the  sleep  that  knows  no  waking. 

While  the  dispersed  Mexican  cavalry  were  rallying, 
the  3d  Indiana  regiment,  under  Colonel  Lane,  was  or 
dered  to  join  Colonel  Davis,  supported  by  a  considera 
ble  body  of  horse.  About  this  time,  from  some  un 
known  reason,  our  wagon  train  displayed  its  length  along 
the  Saltillo  road ;  and  offered  a  conspicuous  prize  for 
the  Mexican  lancers,  which  they  seemed  not  unwilling 
to  appropriate.  Fortunately,  Lieutenant  Rucker,  with  a 
squadron  of  the  first  dragoons  (Captain  Steen  having 
been  previously  wounded  and  Captain  Eustis  confined 
to  his  bed  by  illness),  was  present,  and  by  order  of  Gen 
eral  Taylor  dashed  among  them  in  a  most  brilliant  style, 
dispersing  them  by  his  charge,  as  effectually  as  the  pre 
vious  fire  of  the  Mississippi  riflemen.  May's  dragoons, 
with  a  squadron  of  Arkansas  cavalry,  under  Captain 
Pike,  and  supported  by  a  single  piece  of  artillery,  under 
Lieutenant  Reynolds,  now  claimed  their  share  in  the  dis 
cussion,  and  when  the  Mexicans  had  again  assembled, 
they  had  to  encounter  another  shock  from  the  two 


174  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

squadrons,  besides  a  fierce  fire  of  grape  from  Reynolds's 
six-pounder. 

The  lancers  once  more  rallied,  and,  directing  their 
course  towards  the  Saltillo  road,  were  ,met  by  the  re 
mainder  of  Colonel  Yell's  regiment  and  Marshall's  Ken- 
tuckians,  who  drove  them  towards  the  mountains  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  "valley,  where,  from  their  appearance 
when  last  visible,  it  may  be  presumed  they  are  still  run 
ning.  In  this  precipitate  movement,  they  were  com 
pelled  to  pass  through  a  rancho,  in  which  many  of  our 
valiant  comrades  had  previously  taken  refuge,  who  from 
this  recure  retreat  opened  quite  an  effective  fire  upon 

them. 

###*** 

At  this  time  the  Mexican  force  was  much  divided, 
and  the  fortunes  of  the  day  were  with  us.  Santa 
Anna  saw  the  crisis,  and  by  craft  and  cunning  sought 
to  avert  it.  He  sent  a  white  flag  to  General  Taylor, 
desiring  to  know  "  what  he  wanted."  This  was  at 
once  believed  to  be  a  mere  ruse  to  gain  time  and 
re-collect  his  men;  but  the  American  general  thought 
fit  to  notice  it,  and  General  Wool  was  deputed  to  meet 
the  representative  of  Santa  Anna,  and  to  say  to  him 
that  wre  "  wanted"  peace.  Before  the  interview  could 
be  had,  the  Mexicans  themselves  re-opened  their  fires, 
thus  adding  treachery  of  the  highest  order  to  the  other 
barbarian  practices  which  distinguish  their  mode  of 
warfare.  The  flag,  however,  had  accomplished  the 
ends  which  its  wily  originator  designed,  for  though  our 
troops  could  have  effectually  prevented  the  remainder 
of  his  cavalry  from  joining  the  main  body,  it  could  only 
have  been  done  by  a  fire,  which,  while  the  parley  lasted, 
would  have  been  an  undoubted  breach  of  faith.  Although 
a  portion  of  the  lancers  during  this  interim  had  regained 


TAYLOR.  175 

their  original  position,  a  formidable  number  still  remained 
behind.  Upon  these  the  infantry  opened  a  brisk  fire, 
while  Reynolds's  artillery,  beautifully  served,  hailed  the 
grape  and  canister  upon  them  with  terrible  effect. 

"  The  craft  of  Santa  Anna  had  restored  his  courage, 
and  with  his  reinforcement  of  cavalry  he  determined  to 
charge  our  line.  Under  cover  of  their  artillery,  horse 
and  foot  advanced  upon  our  batteries.  These,  from  the 
smallness  of  our  infantry  force,  were  but  feebly  supported, 
yet,  by  the  most  brilliant  and  daring  efforts,  nobly  main 
tained  their  positions.  Such  was  the  rapidity  of  their 
transitions,  that  officers  and  pieces  seemed  empowered 
with  ubiquity ;  and  upon  cavalry  and  infantry  alike, 
wherever  they  appeared,  they  poured  so  destructive  a 
fire  as  to  silence  the  enemy's  artillery,  compel  his  whole 
line  to  fall  back,  and  soon  to  assume  a  sort  of  sauve  qui 
pent  movement,  indicating  anything  but  victory.  Again 
our  spirits  rose.  The  Mexicans  appeared  thoroughly 
routed,  and  while  their  regiments  and  divisions  were 
flying  before  us,  nearly  all  our  light  troops  were  ordered 
forward,  and  followed  them  with  a  most  deadly  fire, 
mingled  with  shouts  which  rose  above  the  roar  of  ar 
tillery. 

While  our  men  were  driven  through  the  ravines,  at 
the  extremities  of  which  a  body  of  Mexican  lancers  were 
stationed  to  pounce  upon  them  like  tigers,  Brent  an:l 
Whiting,  of  Washington's  battery,  gave  them  such  a 
torrent  of  grape  as  put  them  to  flight,  and  thus  saved 
the  remnants  of  those  brave  regiments  which  had  long 
borne  the  hottest  portion  of  the  fight.  On  the  other 
flank,  while  the  Mexicans  came  rushing  on  like  legions 
of  fiends,  the  artillery  was  left  unsupported,  and  capture 
by  the  enemy  seemed  inevitable.  But  Bragg  and  Thomas 
rose  with  the  crisis,  and  eclipsed  even  the  fame  they  won 


176  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

at  Monterey,  while  Sherman,  O'Brien,  and  Bryan  proved 
themselves  worthy  of  the  alliance.  Every  horse  with 
O'Brien's  battery  was  killed,  and  the  enemy  had  ad 
vanced  to  within  range  of  grape,  sweeping  all  before 
him.  But  here  his  progress  was  arrested,  and  before 
the  showers  of  iron  hail  which  assailed  him,  squadrons 
and  battalions  fell  like  leaves  in  the  blasts  of  autumn. 
The  Mexicans  were  once  more  driven  back  with  great 
loss,  though  taking  with  them  the  three  pieces  of  artillery 
which  were  without  horses. 

In  this  charge  the  1st  Illinois  regiment  and  McKee's 
Kentuckians  were  foremost  The  pursuit  was  too  hot ; 
and  as  it  evinced  too  clearly  our  deficiency  in  numbers, 
the  Mexicans,  with  a  suddenness  which  was  almost  magi 
cal,  rallied  and  returned  upon  us.  They  came  in  myriads, 
and  for  a  while  the  carnage  was  dreadful  on  both  sides. 
We  were  but  a  handful  to  oppose  the  frightful  masses 
which  were  hurled  upon  us,  and  could  as  easily  have  re 
sisted  an  avalance  of  thunderbolts.  We  were  driven 
back,  and  the  day  seemed  lost  beyond  redemption.  Vic 
tory,  which  a  moment  before  appeared  within  our  grasp, 
was  suddenly  torn  from  our  standard.  There  was  but 
one  hope ;  but  that  proved  an  anchor  sure  and  steadfast. 

Thus  thrice  during  the  day,  when  all  seemed  lost  but 
honour,  did  the  artillery,  by  the  ability  with  which  it  was 
manoeuvred,  roll  back  the  tide  of  success  from  the  enemy, 
and  give  such  overwhelming  destructiveness  to  its  effect 
that  the  army  was  saved  and  the  glory  of  the  American 
arms  maintained.  At  this  moment,  however,  let  it  never 
be  forgotten,  that  while  every  effective  man  was  wanted 
on  the  field,  hundreds  of  volunteers  had  collected  in  the 
rancho  with  the  wagon  train,  wjiom  no  efforts  or  entrea 
ties  could  induce  to  join  their  brethren,  neighbours,  and 
friends,  then  in  the  last  struggle  for  victory. 


TAYLOR.  177 

The  battle  had  now  raged  with  variable  success  for 
nearly  ten  hours,  and  by  a  sort  of  mutual  consent,  after 
the  last  carnage  wrought  among  the  Mexicans  by  the 
artillery,  both  parties  seemed  willing  to  pause  upon  the 
result.  Night  fell,  and  the  American  general  with  his 
troops  slept  upon  the  battle-ground,  prepared,  if  neces 
sary,  to  resume  operations  on  the  morrow.  But  ere  the 
sun  rose  again  upon  the  scene  the  Mexicans  had  disap 
peared,  leaving  behind  them  only  the  hundreds  of  their 
dead  and  dying,  whose  bones  are  to  whiten  their  native 
hills,  and  whose  moans  of  anguish  were  to  excite  in  their 
enemies  that  compassion  which  can  have  no  existence  in 
the  bosoms  of  their  friends. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Anecdotes  and  incidents  of  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista — In 
stances  of  individual  gallantry — Notices  of  distinguished 
officers  among  the  slain — Santa  Anna's  Despatch. 

MAJOR  COFFEE'S  NARRATIVE. 

,  MAJOR  COFFEE,  of  the  army,  the  bearer  of  General 
Taylor's  despatches — a  son  of  the  distinguished  general 
who  fought  so  bravely  on  the  plains  of  Chalmette,  and 
in  various  other  battles,  by  the  side  of  the  illustrious 
Jackson,  and  acted  as  the  aid  of  General  Taylor  in  the 
bloody  fight  at  Buena  Vista,  gives  these  particulars  of 
this  hard-fought  battle  : — 

General  Taylor  had  fallen  in  love,  at  first  sight,  with 
the  position  at  which  he  finally  made  his  stand — at  Buena 
Vista.  His  movement  towards  Agua  Nueva  was  merely 
a  ruse  to  decoy  the  enemy  into  the  field  which  he  had 
selected  for  his  battle  ground.  As  soon  as  McCullough's 
men,  who  were  invaluable  as  scouts,  informed  him  of 
Santa  Anna's  approach  to  Agua  Nueva,  General  Taylor 
quietly  broke  up  his  camp,  and  fell  back  to  his  first  love, 
Buena  Vista.  This  position  was  admirably  chosen.  It 
was  at  the  foot  of  a  mountain,  or  rather  of  two  moun 
tains,  between  which  ran  the  road  through  a  narrow 
valley.  On  his  right  there  was  a  deep  ravine,  which 
protected  that  flank  more  effectually  than  half  a  dozen 
regiments  could  have  done.  The  left  of  General  Taylor's 
line  rested  on  the  base  of  a  mountain.  The  road  in  the 
centre  was  intrenched  and  defended  by  a  strong  battery. 


TAYLOR.  '  179 

In  front  the  ground  was  uneven — broken  into  hills  and 
deep  ravines — well  adapted  to  the  mode  of  fighting 
suited  to  our  volunteers,  and  by  its  peculiarities  supply 
ing  the  disadvantage  of  a  great  inferiority  of  numbers. 

On  the  21st  the  enemy  were  descried  approaching 
over  the  distant  hills.  At  their  appearance  the  volunteers 
raised  a  great  shout,  and  gave  three  tremendous  cheers. 
Their  engineers  and  officers  were  seen  flying  over  the 
field,  and  dragging  their  cannon  about  to  get  them  into 
position,  but  the  nature  of  the  ground  did  not  favour 
the  undertaking,  and  it  was  late  in  the  day  before  the 
big  guns  began  to  open. 

The  enemy  had  with  them  thirty-two  cannon, 
mostly  of  large  calibre.  Their  fire,  though  kept  up 
very  briskly,  and  apparently  well  manned,  did  so  little 
execution  in  our  ranks  that  it  was  not  considered  neces 
sary  to  return  their  fire.  Our  cannon  were  therefore 
silent  the  whole  of  the  21st.  Eight  or  ten  killed  and 
wounded  was  the  extent  of  the  casualties  sustained  by 
our  army  on  the  21st.  During  the  day  an  officer 
approached  our  lines  with  a  flag  of  truce,  and  requested 
to  be  shown  to  General  Taylor.  The  brave  old  man 
was  sitting  quietly  on  his  white  charger,  with  his  leg 
over  the  pommel  of  the  saddle,  watching  the  movements 
of  the  enemy,  when  the  Mexican  officer  was  presented. 
In  a  very  courteous  and  graceful  manner  the  officer 
stated  that  "  he  had  been  sent  by  his  excellency  General 
Santa  Anna  to  his  excellency  General  Taylor,  to  inquire, 
in  the  most  respectful  manner,  what  he  (General 
Taylor)  was  waiting  for  ?"  From  the  silence  of 
General  Taylor's  batteries,  and  the  quiet  manner  in 
which  he  received  Santa  Anna's  terrific  cannonading, 
the  Mexican  supposed  he  was  asking  a  very  proper 
question;  to  which  however,  old  Rough  and  Ready  gave 


180  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

the  very  pertinent  reply  that  "  he  was  only  waiting  for 
General  Santa  Anna  to  surrender."  The  Mexican 
returned  hastily  to  his  lines.  This  message  proved  to 
be  a  ruse  to  ascertain  where  General  Taylor's  position 
was,  for  after  the  return  of  the  Mexican  officer  to  his 
own  ranks,  the  whole  Mexican  battery  seemed  to  open 
upon  General  Taylor's  position,  and  the  balls  flew  over 
and  about  him  like  hail.  Utterly  indifferent  to  the 
perils  of  his  situation,  there  sat  the  old  chief  on  his 
conspicuous  white  horse,  peering  through  his  spy-glass 
at  the  long  lines  of  Mexican  troops  that  could  be  seen 
at  a  great  distance  on  the  march.  The  persuasion  of 
his  aids  could  not  induce  him  to  abandon  his  favourite 
point  of  observation,  nor  to  give  up  his  old  white  horse. 
To  the  suggestions  of  his  staff  that  "  old  whitey"  was 
rather  too  conspicuous  a  charger  for  the  commander,  he 
replied,  that  "  the  old  fellow  had  missed  the  fun  at 
Monterey,  on  account  of  a  sore  foot,  and  he  was 
determined  he  should  have  his  share  this  time." 

All  the  officers  on  our  side,  in  this  hard-fought  battle, 
distinguished  themselves.  The  details  of  the  battle  were 
confided  to  General  Wool,  who  nobly  justified  the  confi 
dence  of  his  commander  and  brother  veteran,  by  the 
most  active,  zealous,  efficient,  and  gallant  conduct. 
Throughout  the  whole  action  he  was  constantly  engaged 
in  the  disposition  of  our  forces,  and  in  rallying  them  to 
the  onset.  It  was  a  miracle  he  escaped  the  thick-flying 
balls  which  thinned  the  ranks  he  was  marshalling.  There 
was  but  one  complaint  made  against  him,  an  ;  that  was 
that  he  exposed  himself  too  much.  Brigad  r-General 
Lane  also  showed  himself  to  be  a  brave  a  d  capable 
officer.  Although  wounded  early  in  the  actk  i,  he  kept 
his  horse  until  it  closed,  and  never  for  a  momt  nt  left  his 
post. 


TAYLOR.  181 

On  the  night  of  the  22d,  both  armies  drew  off  from  the 
field  of  battle.  Our  men  were  engaged  all  night  in  bring 
ing  in  the  wounded  and  taking  care  of  them,  the  Mexicans 
as  well  as  their  own  men.  There  were,  however,  but  few 
of  our  men  found  on  the  field  wounded.  They  were,  to 
use  Santa  Anna's  significant  words  in  his  despatch,  "  all 
dead,"  the  cowardly  miscreants  having  killed  every  man 
whom  they  overtook,  wounded  and  helpless  on  the  field. 
With  like  turpitude  and  treachery,  they  left  their  dead 
unburied  and  their  wounded  uncared  for,  on  the  field 
where  they  fell.  The  latter  were  carried  to  Saltillo  in 
our  own  wagons,  the  former  were  buried  by  the  alcalde, 
under  the  orders  of  General  Taylor. 

A  number  of  officers  were  taken  prisoners,  and  an  ex 
change  was  effected,  by  which  all  our  men  in  their  hands 
were  released.  Cassius  M.  Clay's  party  are  understood 
now  to  be  in  the  city  of  Mexico. 

Among  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  Mexicans  are 
three  general  officers,  and  twenty  colonels  and  com 
manders  of  battalions.  General  Minon,  it  appears,  has 
not  as  yet  realized  the  brilliant  career  of  which  he  con 
sidered  his  capture  of  Major  Borland  an  earnest.  He 
was  ordered  by  Santa  Anna  to  attack  and  carry  Saltillo 
during  the  engagement  at  Buena  Vista.  With  this  ob 
ject  he  made  a  demonstration  against  the  town  with 
2000  cavalry.  Lieutenant  Shover,  with  sixty  men  and 
two  small  pieces  of  artillery,  went  out  to  meet  the  valiant 
general,  and  at  one  discharge  of  his  cannon  sent  him 
and  his  large  force  to  the  right-about  in  double  quick 
time. 

In  concluding  our  necessarily  imperfect  sketch  of  the 
few  details  of  the  brilliant  deeds  of  American  valour  per 
formed  at  Buena  Vista — details  gathered  from  a  hasty 
conversation — we  must  be  allowed  to  express  our  satis- 


182  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

faction  to  find  that  the  anticipations  we  have  so  confi 
dently  and  so  frequently  expressed  of  the  bravery  and 
efficiency  of  our  volunteers,  have  been  more  than  real 
ized.  Let  those  who  have  heretofore  made  our  citizen 
soldiers  the  theme  of  their  ribaldry  and  ridicule,  be  for 
ever  hushed  into  silence  by  the  unparalleled  gallantry 
and  glory  which  have  consecrated  in  American  history 
the  bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista. 

THE  KENTUCKY  REGIMENT. 

At  a  very  critical  point  of  the  battle  on  the  23d,  when 
it  became  necessary  to  sustain  one  of  our  columns,  which 
was  staggering  under  a  charge  made  by  the  Mexicans  in 
overwhelming  numbers,  General  Taylor  despatched  Mr. 
Crittenden  to  order  Colonel  McKee,  of  the  2d  Ken 
tucky  regiment,  to  bring  his  men  into  immediate  action. 
Mr.  Crittenden  found  the  regiment,  men  and  officers, 
eager  for  the  fray,  delivered  the  order  and  rode  back 
to  the  general,  by  whose  side  it  was  his  duty  to  keep. 
The  Kentuckiaris  moved  forward  in  gallant  style,  led  by 
McKee  and  Clay,  both  of  whom,  alas !  fell  in  a  subse 
quent  part  of  the  day.  It  so  happened  that  before 
reaching  a  position  from  which  they  could  deliver  an 
effective  fire,  the  regiment  had  to  cross  a  valley  which 
was  broken  up  by  ravines  and  masses  of  stone.  Whilst 
crossing  this  valley  the  heads  only  of  the  men  could  be 
seen  from  the  point  which  General  Taylor  and  Mr. 
Crittenden  occupied — and  these  were  bobbing  up  and 
down  and  crosswise  in  such  confusion  as  to  impress  both 
with  the  idea  that  the  regiment  had  fallen  into  disorder. 
The  Mexicans  were  annoying  them  at  the  same  moment 
by  a  fire,  which  helped  to  confirm  the  opinion  of  the 
general  that  the  Kentuckians  wrere  thrown  into  dismay. 

It  was  one  of  those  decisive  crises  which  occur  in 


TAYLOR,  183 

every  contested  field,  when  the  issue  of  the  day  depend 
ed,  for  the  time  being,  upon  the  gallantry  of  a  particular 

corps. 

General  Taylor,  who,  as  before  said,  could  only  see 
the  heads  of  the  troops,  and  misled  by  their  motions  in 
getting  across  gullies  and  going  around  rocks  and  other 
obstructions  into  the  belief  that  they  were  about  to  falter, 
turned  to  Mr.  Crittenden,  who  is  a  Kentuckian,  and  with 
a  countenance  indicating  deep  mortification — for  the  ge 
neral  is  a  Kentuckian  too — and  an  eye  fierce  with  emotion, 
exclaimed,  "  Mr.  Crittenden,  this  will  not  do — this  is 
not  the  way  for  Kentuckians  to  behave  themselves  when 
called  upon  to  make  a  good  battle — it  wall  not  answer, 
sir : "  and  with  this  he  clenched  his  hands,  and  knit  his  brow, 
and  set  his  teeth  hard  together.  Mr.  Crittenden,  who 
was  mistaken  by  the  same  indications  that  deceived  the 
•general,  could  scarcely  make  a  reply  from  very  chagrin 
and  shame.  In  a  few  moments,  however,  the  Kentuck 
ians  had  crossed  the  uneven  places,  and  were  seen  as 
cending  the  slope  of  the  valley,  shoulder  to  shoulder, 
and  with  the  firm  and  regular  step  of  veterans  of  a 
hundred  fields.  On  they  moved  until  they  reached  the 
crest  of  the  hill,  where  they  met  the  enemy  before  the 
flush  of  a  temporary  advantage  had  subsided.  Here 
they  delivered  their  fires  with  such  regularity  and  deadly 
aim  that  the  decimated  phalanx  of  Mexico  gave  way 
and  retreated  precipitously..  As  the  Kentuckians  emerged 
from  the  valley  the  countenance  of  the  old  general,  who 
was  regarding  them  with  the  intensest  interest,  gradually 
relaxed  the  bitterness  of  its  expression.  A  glow  of  pride 
supplanted  the  deep  mortification  which  fixed  its  muscles, 
and  enthusiasm  qualified  the  fierce  glance  of  his  eye. 
Forward  they  moved  under  his  riveted  gaze,  whose 
feelings  became  more  and  more  wrought  up  as  they 
12 


184  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

approached  the  scene  of  carnage.  When  they  opened 
their  fire  the  old  general  could  no  longer  restrain  his 
admiration,  but  broke  forth  with  a  loud  huzza — "  Hurrah 
for  old  Kentucky,"  he  exclaimed,  talking  as  it  were  to 
himself  and  rising  in  his  saddle — «  that 's  the  way  to  do 
it ;  give  it  to  them,"  and  the  tears  of  exultation  rolled 
down  his  cheeks  as  he  said  it. 

Having  got  rid  of  this  ebullition  of  state  pride,  he  went 
about  looking  after  other  parts  of  the  field. 

The  Kentuckians  that  day  did  their  duty  as  others  did. 
They  paid  toll  in  travelling  the  highroad  to  glory,  as 
the  list  of  killed  and  wounded  shows. 

THE  FLAG  OF  HUMANITY. 

An  eye-witness — one  who  was  near  General  Tay 
lor's  person  all  the  time,  with  the  exceptions  of  those 
intervals  during  which  he  was  carrying  his  orders  over 
the  field — informs  us  that  not  a  man  of  the  American 
lines,  with  the  exception  of  the  momentary  panic  of  the 
Arkansas  regiment,  wavered  for  an  instant  whilst  facing 
the  most  galling  fire  and  receiving  the  repeated  charges 
of  the  enemy,  which,  it  is  but  candour  to  say,  Were  con 
ducted  with  spirit  and  address. 

As  an  instance  of  the  desperation  with  which  both 
armies  fought,  Mr.  Crittenden,  who  acted  as  General 
Taylor's  aid  throughout  the  fight,  when  asked  whether 
the  Mexicans  had  taken  three  pieces  of  ordnance  from  us, 
as  Santa  Anna  reported,  replied  in  the  affirmative,  and 
said  that  the  guns  were  not  given  up  till  every  man  at 
them  was  shot  down,  and  every  horse  killed  near  them  ; 
and,  moreover,  that  in  bearing  them  off,  the  Mexicans 
suffered  a  loss  of  some  six  hundred  men.  They  inter 
fered  madly  between  the  retreating  guns  and  our  men, 
seeking  to  regain  them.  These  guns  were  a  part  of 


>  TAYLOR.  185 

Captain  Washington's  battery,  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  O'Brien.  Lieutenant  O'Brien  was  wounded 
before  his  guns  were  taken,  and  when  reporting  his  loss 
to  General  Taylor,  was  complimented  for  his  bravery — 
it  was  no  fault  of  his.  Captain  Washington  was  in 
another  part  of  the  field,  and  sustained  himself  with  great 
coolness  and  intelligence,  as  did  Captains  Bragg  and 
Sherman,  with  their  respective  batteries — in  all  but  four 
teen  guns. 

It  may  be  proper  here  to  explain  the  circumstances^ 
upon  which  a  report  is  founded  that  General  Taylor  had; 
sent  Santa  Anna  a  flag  of  truce  during  the  action.  It 
occurred  that  a  body  of  Mexican  infantry,  about  a  thou 
sand  strong,  had  become  detached  from  Santa  Anna's, 
army,  and  were  being  mowed  down  with  terrible  slaugh 
ter.  General  Taylor  sent  Mr,  Crittenden  with  a  flag  to- 
say  to  them  that  if  they  would  surrender  he  would  stop 
killing  them.  When  Mr.  Crittenden  got  amongst  them,, 
he  was  taken  by  them  to  Santa  Anna  with  his  eyes  blind 
folded.  This  he  remonstrated  against  without  effect. 
When  he  was  brought  to  Santa  Anna,  he  was  asked 
his  mission.  He  told  him  he  had  no  message  for  him ; 
that  he  was  sent  to  ask  a  detached  force  to  surrender,  to 
save  the  effusion  of  blood,  and  as  his  errand  was  unsuc 
cessful,  he  demanded  to  be  sent  back  to  his  general.  It 
was  then  that  Santa  Anna  requested  him  to  tell  General 
Taylor  that  if  he  would  surrender  he  would  be  protected 
and  well  cared  for.  Mr.  Crittenden  replied  that  he  had 
no  commission  to  speak  with  him  (Santa  Anna)  upon 
that  or  any  other  matter,  but  it  was  no  use  to  send  any 
such  message,  as  General  Taylor  never  surrendered." 


186  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

DISTINGUISHED  OFFICERS  SLAIN. 

A  gentleman  writing  from  the  scene  of  action,  with 
reference  to  the  officers  of  distinction  who  fell  at  Buena 
Vista,  says :  At  sunrise  on  the  22d  of  February,  the  bat 
tle  began  in  earnest.  The  Mexicans  were  drawn  out  in 
immense  numbers.  The  dark  columns  of  infantry  ex 
tended  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  and  the  cavalry 
seemed  to  cover  the  whole  view  with  their  interminable 
lines.  At  intervals,  between  the  infantry  and  cavalry, 
their  big  guns,  strongly  protected  by  a  large  artillery 
force,  kept  up  an  incessant  cannonade  against  our  lines. 
Their  forces  were  soon  in  motion.  Our  artillery  was 
thrown  forward  to  meet  them,  protected  by  the  volunteers. 
General  Wool  led  the  main  body  in  person,  and  was 
seen  everywhere  rallying  and  encouraging  the  volun 
teers.  The  two  armies  were  soon  engaged  in  hot  con 
flict.  The  broken  nature  of  the  ground  divided  the 
forces,  so  that,  instead  of  one  general  engagement,  the 
regiments  were  compelled  in  a  great  measure  to  fight  on 
their  own  hook.  Our  officers  were  always  in  the  ad 
vance,  leading  their  troops — hence  the  great  mortality 
among  them.  In  this  general  "  melee,"  one  of  oui 
small  regiments,  of  400  men,  would  be  attacked  by  a 
whole  Mexican  brigade  of  several  thousand.  Thus  the 
Kentucky  infantry  was  attacked  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  in  a 
deep  ravine,  by  an  immense  force  of  the  enemy. 

A  large  number  of  officers  were  killed  here — among 
them  was  Colonel  McKee,  who  fell  badly  wounded,  and 
was  immediately  despatched  by  the  enemy,  who  pierced 
him  with  their  bayonets  as  he  lay  on  the  ground.  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Clay  was  shot  through  the  thigh,  and 
being  unable  to  walk,  was  taken  up  and  carried  some 
distance  by  some  of  his  men,  but  owing  to  the  steepness 


TAYLOR.  187 

of  the  hill,  the  men  finding  it  very  difficult  to  carry  him, 
and  the  enemy  in  great  numbers  pressing  upon  them,  the 
gallant  lieutenant-colonel  begged  them  to  leave  him 
and  take  care  of  themselves.  Forced  to  leave  him  on 
the  field,  the  last  that  was  seen  of  this  noble  young 
officer  he  was  lying  on  his  back,  fighting  with  his  sword 
the  enemv,  who  were  stabbing  him  with  their  bayonets. 
The  veteran,  Captain  William  S.  Willis,  of  the  same 
regiment,  at  the  head  of  his  company,  with  three  stal 
wart  sons  who  fought  at  his  side,  was  badly  wounded, 
but  still  continued  the  fight,  until  he  was  overcome  with 
the  loss  of  blood. 

In  the  mean  time  the  Indiana  brigade,  who  were 
drawn  out  and  ordered  to  charge  the  enemy,  were  seized 
with  a  panic,  and  displaying  some  hesitation,  Assistant 
Adjutant-General  Lincoln  rushed  to  their  front,  and, 
whilst  upbraiding  them  for  their  cowardice,  was  shot, 
several  balls  passing  through  his  body.  In  justice  to 
this  brigade,  it  should  be  stated  that  they  subsequently 
rallied,  and  fully  redeemed  their  reputation  by  the  most 
gallant  and  effective  fighting. 

Colonel  Hardin  led  the  Illinpisians  in  a  very  handsome 
style,  and  the  sturdy  "  suckers"  fought  like  lions. 
Their  intrepid  colonel  fell  wounded,  and  experienced 
the  fate  of  Colonels  McKee  and  Clay,  and  was  killed  by 
the  enemy — not  however  before  he  had  killed  one  of  the 
cowardly  miscreants  with  a  pistol,  which  he  fired  whilst 
lying  on  the  ground. 

Colonel  Yell  led,  the  foremost  man,  a  charge  of  his 
mounted  volunteers  against  a  large  body  of  lancers,  and 
was  killed  by  a  lance,  which  entered  his  mouth  and  tore 
off  one  side  of  his  face. 

The  Mississippians,  the  heroes  of  Monterey,  after 
doing  hard  service  as  skirmishers, were  ordered  into  line 


188  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

to  receive  a  charge  of  cavalry,  which  they  did  with  their 
rifles,  delivering  at  the  same  time  a  most  destructive  fire 
among  the  crowded  columns  of  cavalry.  The  enemy 
<vere  completely  repulsed.  The  distinguished  com 
mander  of  this  gallant  regiment,  Colonel  Jefferson  Davis, 
was  badly  wounded,  an  escopette  ball  having  entered 
his  foot  and  passed  out  of  his  leg.  He  was,  however, 
doing  well  when  last  heard  from.  The  chivalrous 
Colonel  McClung  was  prevented  from  doing  his  share 
of  the  brave  deeds  of  this  brilliant  fight,  by  the  grievous 
wound  received  at  the  battle  pf  Monterey,  which  still 
confines  him  to  his  bed,  and  from  which  it  is  much 
feared  by  his  best  friends  he  will  never  recover. 

Colonel  Humphrey  Marshall's  splendid  regiment  of 
Kentucky  cavalry  were  impatient  for  an  opportunity  of 
showing  their  mettle  and  avenging  the  capture  of  their 
brethren,  then  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  They  were 
soon  favoured  with  the  desired  opportunity,  by  the  ap 
proach  of  a  force  of  2000  lancers  and  hussars,  who 
charged  on  them.  The  Kentuckians  stood  their  ground 
with  immoveable  steadiness,  and  receiving  the  enemy 
with  a  fire  from  their  carbines,  charged  in  the  most  gal 
lant  style  through  the  column  on  the  right,  and  wheeling 
fell  on  their  left,  dispersing  and  killing  a  great  many  of 
them.  A  like  charge  was  made  by  Colonel  May,  at  the 
head  of  a  squadron  of  dragoons,  and  one  of  Arkansas 
cavalry,  against  a  large  body  of  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
with  like  results. 

"  •.j'-MiYi|n  -•  .-.-'f.'l  ^  .-^V- ••;•"'•?  n't  "'"  *>  ';   ''''••  V  '  -Wf( l- («*••'  ) 
GENERAL  CHARACTER  OF  THE  BATTLE. 

The  following  remarks  on  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista, 
by  the  accomplished  editor  of  the  Baltimore  American, 
comprise  the  ablest  general  view  of  its  merits  which  has 
yet  appeared.  The  writer  does  no  more  than  strict 


TAYLOR.  189 

justice  in  the  high  encomiums  which  he  bestows  on 
General  Taylor,  his  officers,  and  his  men. 

"It  appears  that  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  was  really 
fought  by  less  than  4000  Americans  against  20,000 
Mexicans.  With  a  proportion  of  five  to  one  against  us, 
in  point  of  numbers  ;  it  is  to  be  remembered  too  that  the 
Mexicans  were  regular  soldiers,  while  nearly  nine-tenths 
of  our  troops  were  volunteers  on  their  first  campaign. 
With  the  exception  of  the  Mississippi  regiment,  which 
fought  at  Monterey,  the  rest  of  the  volunteers  met  an 
enemy  in  the  field  for  the  first  time  at  Buena  Vista. 
We  may  then  estimate,  in  some  sort,  the  valour  of  those 
brave  men  who  stood  for  nine  hours  against  overwhelm 
ing  numbers,  firm  in  their  own  heroism,  indomitable  in 
spirit,  inflexible  in  purpose,  rolling  back  the  tide  of  war, 
as  rocks  repel  the  surges  of  the  ocean,  and  finally  stand 
ing  victorious  on  that  field  of  terrific  strife.  The  standard 
of  the  republic  never  streamed  over  a  battle-field  more 
gallantly  won.  General  Taylor's  loss  in  killed,  wound 
ed,  and  missing,  was  nearly  one-sixth  of  his.  entire  force. 
Yet,  when  the  battle  ceased  on  the  evening  of  the  23d, 
and  a  renewal  of  the  fight  was  expected  with  the 
next  day's  dawn,  what  record  do  we  find  of  that  epoch 
of  suspense  !  Here  it  is : — c  During  the  night,'  says 
General  Taylor,  c  the  wounded  were  removed  to  Saltillo, 
and  every  preparation  made  to  receive  the  enemy,  should 
he  again  attack  our  position.'  There  was  no  misgiving 
in  that  little  band. 

This  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  remarkable  in  many  points 
of  view,  is  particularly  so  as  exhibiting  extraordinary 
steadiness,  endurance,  and  courage,  on  the  part  of  raw 
troops  exposed  to  fire  for  the  first  time.  Here  was  a 
pitched  battle  entered  upon  deliberately  ;  an  enemy  im 
mensely  superior  in  numbers  ;  regular  troops,  commanded 


190  %     TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

by  the  ablest  and  most  experienced  general  in  Mexico ; 
and  this  battle  to  be  fought  in  open  field,  without  fortifi 
cations  or  intrenchments,  was  awaited  by  our  soldiers, 
who  lay  upon  their  arms  on  the  night  of  the  22d,  know 
ing  that  the  morning's  light  would  usher  in  a  day  of 
conflict  and  carnage.  It  was  a  crisis  to  try  veterans  ;  it 
was  met  by  men  who  less  than  a  year  before  were  en 
gaged  in  every  variety  of  industrial  pursuit  in  peaceful 
life,  who  had  never  seen  a  battle  or  met  a  foe. 

While  these  facts  demonstrate  unyielding  elements  of 
hardihood  and  courage  in  the  men  who  fought  at  Buena 
Vista,  they  indicate  also  the  high  and  commanding 
character  of  the  officers  who  brought  those  sterling  ma 
terials  into  order  and  efficiency.  Those  lamented  sons 
of  Kentucky,  McKee.  and  Clay,  the  gallant  Davis  of 
Mississippi,  and  others,  educated  at  West  Point,  added 
all  the  aids  of  military  knowledge  to  their  own  heroic 
bearing  in  the  discipline  of  their  troops  and  in  the  inspi 
ration  of  confidence,  so  essential  to  success  in  war.  But 
where  the  blaze  of  glory  concentrates  with  most  particular 
lustre,  its  brilliant  light  falls  upon  the  calm  countenance 
of  the  general-in-chief,  Taylor,  the  invincible,  to  whom 
all  eyes  were  turned  in  every  crisis  of  danger — who  1 
formed  in  himself  the  stay  and  bulwark  of  the  hopes  of 
his  army — the  only  man,  perhaps,  who  would  have  fought 
the  battle  of  Buena  Vista ;  the  only  man,  probably,  who 
could  have  won  it.  Imperturbable  and  self-possessed,  he 
held  the  battle  in  his  eye;  and  amid  the  storm  and  fury 
of  the  strife  he  inspired  renewed  courage  by  his  presence 
at  every  point  of  danger.  With  such  a  commander  and 
such  troops,  victory  is  fast  bound  to  our  standard,  let  it 
float  where  it  may." 

The  following  account  of  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  by 
General  Santa  Anna,  we  think  it  due  to  General  Taylor 


TAYLOR.  191 

to  insert.  It  fully  confirms  every  particular  of  General 
Taylor's  own  despatch ;  and  with  the  usual  amusing  and 
absurd  effrontery  of  Mexican  reports,  it  claims  a  TRI 
UMPH  over  the  American  arms. 

LIBERATING  ARMY  OF  THE  REPUBLIC,        | 
General-in-Chief :  Campaign  Secretary's  Office.  \ 

MOST  EXCELLENT  SIR:  In  my  despatch  from  the  battle 
field  of  Angostura,  dated  the  23d,  I  promised  to  give  you 
details  of  the  action  of  the  22d  and  the  battle  of  the 
23d,  so  soon  as  I  should  etfect  the  movement  which  our 
entire  lack  of  water  and  of  all  supplies  made  indispen 
sable.  In  those  engagements  the  army  and  the  nation 
have  restored  the  lustre  of  their  arms  by  overcoming  ob 
stacles  inconceivable  to  all  save  those  who  witnessed 
them.  These  arose,  not  only  from  the  difficulties  of  this 
contest,  and  of  our  own  situation,  but  also  from  the  rigour 
of  the  season,  and  the  exhaustion  of  the  country  along 
an  almost  desert  route  of  over  fifty  leagues,  that  was 
destitute  of  good  water,  and  of  all  save  the  most  limited 
supplies. 

The  supreme  government  was  informed  by  commu 
nications  made  before  my  leaving  San  Luis,  that  the 
army  under  my  command  would  not  commence  its  ope 
rations  till  the  end  of  winter,  as  I  knew  by  experience 
the  severe  climate  of  the  region,  which  was  also  scant 
of  habitations,  provisions,  shelter,  and  even  of  fuel.  I, 
therefore,  resolved  to  go  on  organizing,  drilling,  arm 
ing,  and  clothing  the  army ;  and,  in  a  word,  to  put 
into  a  military  shape  the  forces  which  had  just  been 
assembled.  My  intentions,  however,  could  not  be  ma 
turely  realized. 

The  want  of  pecuniary  resources  embarrassed  all  my 
dispositions.  The  soldiers,  though  well  disposed  to 


192  TAYLOR  AND 


GENERALS. 


combat  with  the  enemy,  had  been  badly  supplied  for  a 
month,  and  would  soon  have  been  in  want  even  of  food, 
but  that  the  exertions  of  the  commanders  of  corps  pre 
vented  that  destitution  from  driving  them  from  their 
ranks.  While  those  meritorious  men  were  suffering  all 
kinds  of  privation,  certain  \vriters,  from  ignorance,  want 
of  reflection,  party  spirit,  or,  perhaps,  from  mistaken 
patriotism,  were  zealously  engaged  in  thwarting  the  plans 
which  might  otherwise  have  proved  successful.  This 
they  did  by  unjust  charges  against  the  army  and  par 
ticular  individuals,  whom  they  abused  for  not  marching 
to  the  conflict,  accusing  them  of  want  of  decision,  and 
asserting  that  the  position  of  the  army  at  San  Luis  was 
more  threatening  to  our  liberties  than  to  the  enemy.  In 
the  clubs  of  that  capital  they  laboured  with  assiduity  to 
make  the  army  the  instrument  of  a  revolt  ;  but  I  frus 
trated  their  intrigues  by  timely  steps.  There  was  one 
writer  who  had  the  audacity  to  intimate  that  I  was  in 
collusion  with  the  enemy.  Yes,  I,  to  whom  they  may 
attribute  errors,  but  whose  whole  previous  course  has 
shown  the  most  elevated  patriotism  !  Traitors  are  they 
who  seek  not  only  to  traduce  me,.but  by  their  detraction 
of  the  army  to  unnerve  its  vigour  for  the  service  of  the 
country.  It  seems  as  if  a  fatality  directs  the  destinies 
of  this  nation,  and  interdicts  a  unanimity  of  the  public 
will  for  its  defence  ;  and  from  this  fatal  blindness,  the 
moment  when  every  heart  and  every  aspiration  should 
be  directed  to  one  object,  is  the  very  juncture  when 
division  and  distrust  are  disseminated.  Behold  me,  then, 
compelled  by  every  circumstance  to  change  my  plans. 
Desertion  had  already  commenced  to  a  shameful  extent  ; 
and  I  was  fully  persuaded  that  if  the  scarcity  should 
continue,  the  army  would  be  dishonourably  frittered 
away.  I  therefore  resolved  that,  if  annihilated,  it  should 


TAYLOR.  193 

be  with  glory.  Having  no  supplies,  I,  to  obtain  them, 
compromitted  my  private  fortune  and  the  credit  of  my 
self  and  friends.  All  this  procured  me  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty  thousand  dollars,  with  which  I  was 
able  to  furnish  the  needful  supplies  to  the  army  for  twelve 
days.  I-  knew  well  the  country  we  had  to  cross,  and  the 
necessity  there  would  be  for  carrying  provisions ;  and  I 
sympathized  in  anticipation  with  the  soldier  for  what  he 
would  endure  from  the  rigour  of  the  season ;  but  to  ren 
der  good  service  to  the  country,  and  save  its  honour,  I 
had  to  overlook  all  this. 

The  army  moved  from  San  Luis  by  brigades,  so  as  to 
render  available  the  scanty  resources  afforded  by  the 
country  we  were  to  cross.  The  force  consisted  of  13,432 
infantry,  divided  into  twenty-eight  battalions ;  4338  ca 
valry,  in  thirty-nine  squadrons ;  and  a  train  of  artillery 
of  three  twenty-four-pounders,  three  sixteen-pounders, 
five  twelve-pounders,  five  eight-pounders,  and  a  seven- 
inch  howitzer,  all  served  by  413  artillerymen — the  total 
being  18,133  men.  Of  this  force  there  remained  behind, 
the  garrison  of  the  works  at  San  Luis,  and  others  which 
I  allotted  to  the  towns  on  the  route  ;  as  also  two  squad 
rons  to  escort  our  small  and  only  reserve  of  ammunition ; 
a  brigade  of  infantry,  of  two  battalions,  under  General 
Don  Ciriaco  Vasquez,  which  remained  as  a  corps  of 
reserve  in  Matehuala,  and  of  observation  upon  Tula ;  as 
also  a  brigade  of  cavalry,  under  General  Don  Jose  Urrea. 
The  latter  was  intended  to  pass  Tula,  and  move  through 
Tamaulipas  to  the  neighbourhood  of  Monterey,  so  as  to 
call  the  enemy's  attention  to  that  quarter.  The  point 
of  concentration  for  the  brigades  ought  necessarily  to  be 
near  this  place,  so  that  in  the  region  through  which  they 
had  to  move,  many  troops  might  not  be  at  once  thrown 
together,  I  therefore  fixed  on  the  hacienda  of  Encarna- 


194  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

cion  for  that  point,  it  being,  as  I  calculated,  the  last  stage 
but  one  of  ray  march.  I  there  held  a  review  of  the 
army,  which  had  already  lost  a  thousand  men  by  sick 
ness  and  desertion.  The  former  was  caused  by  the 
scantiness  and  bad  quality  of  food,  and  still  more  of 
water,  which  was  brackish  as  well  as  scarce,  as  also  by 
snow-storms  and  the  exposure  of  the  troops,  who  had 
always  to  be  in  bivouac  and  without  fuel.  These  snow 
storms  obliged  me  to  suspend  the  march  two  days,  till 
the  weather  became  more  settled:  for  the  cold  had 
already  caused  the  death  of  several  men  and  horses,  and 
I  felt  bound  by  every  means  to  diminish  the  losses  we 
were  incurring.  These  hardships  will  account  for  the 
number  of  desertions  which  occurred  up  to  our  arrival 
at  Encarnacion,  and  which  afterwards  even  increased. 
It  must  also  be  remembered,  that  almost  the  whole  army 
had  been  recently  formed,  and,  as  is  well  known,  of 
men  taken  by  violence  from  their  homes. 

We  had  advices  that  the  enemy  were  fortified  in  the 
hacienda  of  Agua  Nueva,  with  6000  men  and  thirty 
pieces,  resolved  to  defend  the  denies  known  by  the  names 
of  the  passes  of  Carnero  and  Agua  Nueva.  The  Ameri 
cans  did  not  know  the  precise  point  on  which  our  march 
was  directed ;  for,  though  they  exchanged  some  shots 
with  our  advance  in  Encarnacion,  and  had  frequent  small 
skirmishes  with  us  in  the  above  passes,  they  supposed 
our  troops  to  be  scouting  parties  of  the  first  brigade  of 
cavalry,  under  Don  Jose  V.  Minon,  whom  I  had  ad 
vanced  as  far  as  the  hacienda  of  Potosi.  These  were 
the  impressions  when  I  made  my  dispositions. 

It  was  my  intention  to  place  my  forces  between  the 
enemy  and  Saltillo,  so  as  to  oblige  him  to  fight  under  the 
disadvantage  of  having  his  communication  cut  off,  or,  if 
he  would  not  leave  his  works,  to  enable  me  to  besiege 


TAYLOR.  195 

him  in  Agua  Nueva.  This  plan  might  be  carried  out  in 
three  different  ways.  One  was  by  marching  twenty 
leagues  by  the  direct  road,  another  by  moving  to  the 
right  by  La  Hedionda,  so  as  to  occupy  Buena  Vista;  and 
the  third,  by  moving  to  the  left  by  La  Punta  de  Santa 
Elena,  so  as  to  occupy  the  hacienda  of  La  Banqueria,  and 
thereafter  the  road  to  Saltillo.  The  two  last  movements 
were  at  this  time  impracticable,  for  they  would  either  of 
them  require  three  or  four  days,  march,  while  we  were 
without  provisions,  forage,  or  water.  I  therefore  resolv 
ed  to  operate  by  the  direct  road,  force  the  positions,  and, 
after  passing  the  last  defile,  make  a  diversion  by  the  left, 
and  occupy  the  rancho  of  Encantada,  with  the  view  of 
obtaining  water,  none  of  which  was  to  be  had  for  more 
than  eighteen  leagues.  All  this  was  favoured  by  the 
enemy's  ignorance  of  our  march;  but  misfortune  still 
followed  us.  A  deserter  from  the  regiment  of  Coraceros, 
a  native  of  Saltillo,  named  Francisco  Valdes,  passed 
over  from  Encarnacion  to  the  enemy,  and  gave  him  in 
formation  of  the  movement.  The  execrable  treason  of 
this  infamous  wretch  frustrated  the  best  combinations. 

On  the  21st,  at  noon,  I  ordered  the  march  to  com 
mence,  the  four  light  battalions,  under  General  Don 
Pedro  Ampudia,  forming  the  vanguard.  I  had  not 
hesitated  to  allow  that  general,  and  other  officers  who 
had  been  court-martialled  for  the  affair  of  Monterey,  to 
participate  in  these  operations,  not  only  because  I  did 
not  consider  them  culpable,  but  also  on  account  of  the 
zeal  they  manifested.  This  brigade  was  followed  by 
one  of  artillery,  of  sixteeri-pounders,with  the  regiments  of 
engineers  and  their  train,  and  those  by  the  park  of  the 
regiment  of  hussars.  Then  came  the  first  division, 
commanded  by  General  Don  Manuel  Lombardini,  with 
four  twelve-pounders  and  the  park.  The  second  division, 


196  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

under  General  Don  Francisco  Pacheco,  followed  next, 
with  four  eight-pounders  and  their  park ;  after  these  the 
whole  of  the  cavalry,  under  Don  Julian  Juvera;  and 
then  the  remainder  of  the  general  park  and  baggage, 
the  rear  being  covered  by  a  brigade  of  cavalry  under 
General  Don  Manuel  Andrade. 

In  this  order  of  march  the  troops  were  ordered  to  make 
the  first  fourteen  leagues,  between  Encenada  and  a  plain 
called  De  la  Guerra,  which  is  in  front  of  the  first  defile, 
called  the  Pass  of  the  Pineries ;  and  to  pass  the  night 
on  that  plain  in  the  same  order  of  column.  The  troops 
having  eaten  their  rations,  order  was  given  for  carry 
ing  water,  as  none  could  be  met  with  till  the  day 
following,  after  having  overcome  the  enemy  at  Agua 
Nueva,  three  leagues  beyond  the  aforesaid  pass.  I, 
with  my  staff  and  the  regiment  of  engineers,  occupied 
the  front,  a  little  behind  the  light  troops.  On  arriving 
at  the  plain,  De  la  Guerra,  I  continued  the  march  in 
order  to  pass  the  defile  of  Pinones,  which  was  accom 
plished  ;  and  I  ordered  the  light  brigade  to  take  a 
position  in  the  pass  of  Carnero,  where  it  had  a  skirmish 
with  an  advance  of  the  enemy.  Under  these  dispositions 
we  passed  the  night. 

At  dawn  on  the  22d,  the  army  continued  its  march, 
with  the  idea  of  carrying  by  force  of  arms  the  pass  of 
Agua  Nueva,  which  I  supposed  would  be  defended  by  the 
enemy  ;  but  I  found  to  my  surprise  that  it  was  abandoned. 
I  then  concluded  that  the  American  forces  had  retired  to 
their  fortifications  in  the  hacienda,  to  concentrate  their 
defence  under  cover  of  the  intrenchments,  which  I 
had  heard  they  had  there  thrown  up.  Under  this  idea  I 
continued  the  march,  in  order  to  turn  by  the  right  to  the 
rancho  of  Encantada,  which,  as  I  have  before  mention 
ed,  is  on  the  Saltillo  road,  being  between  that  city  and 


TAYLOR.  197 

Agua  Nueva,  and  four  or  five  leagues  from  each.  Till 
that  time  no  one  had  appeared  to  give  me  information, 
nor  did  any  one  after,  except  a  servant  from  Agua  Nueva, 
who  told  me  that  the  enemy  had  been  evacuating  his  po 
sition  since  the  day  previous,  and  falling  back  towards 
Saltillo  ;  and  that  on  that  same  morning,  the  hacienda 
had  been  wholly  abandoned,  by  the  retreat  of  a  small  de 
tachment  which  escorted  a  large  quantity  of  munitions. 
By  this  movement  my  first  plans  and  dispositions,  found 
ed  on  an  expected  resistance,  were  rendered  abortive ; 
but  I  still  did  not  despair  of  a  successful  result,  for  I  had 
in  anticipation  directed  General  Minon,  with  his  cavalry 
brigade,  1200  strong,  to  occupy,  on  the  morning  of  the 
22d,  the  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista,  distant  three  short 
leagues  from  Saltillo.  This  force  might  arrest  the  ene 
my's  march,  or,  at  least,  make  a  diversion  that  would  give 
time  for  the  army  to  corne  up.  I  therefore  continued 
my  march,  without  losing  more  time  than  would  allow 
the  soldiers  to  drink  water  on  the  road.  The  light  bri 
gade  came  within  sight  of  the  enemy's  rear-guard,  and  I 
ordered  them  to  charge  in  conjunction  with  the  hussar 
regiment.  I  had  reason  to  believe  the  enemy  were 
making  a  precipitate  retreat,  as  they  left  several  articles 
on  the  road,  such  as  carts,  forge  implements,,  extra 
wheels,  and  other  things,  which  we  gathered  while 
marching.  In  consequence  of  the  different  reports  I  re 
ceived,  I  ordered  the  cavalry  to  advance  ;  I  thought  we 
would  be  able  to  reach  their  rear-guard,  and  placed  my 
self  at  the  head  of  those  troops. 

On  arriving  at  a  place  called  Angostura,  I  found  the 
main  body  of  the  enemy  awaiting  me  in  position.  The 
road  from  Ihe  pass  of  Pinones  to  Saltillo  runs  between 
two  chains  of  mountains,  which  form  that  pass  and  those 
of  Carnero  and  Agua  Nueva.  The  ridges  open  beyond 


198  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

that  hacienda  and  approach  each  other  again  at  Angos 
tura,  where  the  road  turns  to  the  right.  At  this  place 
there  is  a  succession  of  ridges,  which  run  out  toward 
the  line  of  our  route,  and  at  right  angles  with  it,  and  be 
tween  them  are  ravines  which  form  the  drains  of  the 
mountains  on  the  right.  They  are  more  or  less  passable, 
but  all  very  difficult.  The  enemy's  position  was  in  front 
and  in  rear  of  the  road,  his  right  and  front  being 
covered  by  ravines  that  were  impassable,  even  for 
infantry,  and  a  battery  of  four  pieces  being  planted  on 
the  highest  point.  His  battalions  were  formed  on  the 
heights  with  two  other  batteries,  one  of  which  was  in  a 
low  part  of  the  road,  between  two  hills  ;  and,  to  my 
view,  their  forces  appeared  to  be  about  8000  men,  with 
twenty  pieces  ;  but  the  prisoners  taken  from  them  report 
twenty-six  pieces,  and  upwards  of  8000  combatants. 

I  reconnoitred  the  position  and  situation  of  the  ene 
my,  and  ordered  the  director  of  engineers,  General  Don 
Ignacio  de  Mora  y  Villamil,  to  do  the  same.  After  as 
certaining  the  force  of  the  invader,  it  was  necessary 
either  to  await  the  infantry,  to  take  position,  or  to  right, 
as  might  seem  most  advisable.  At  this  interval,  I  ob 
served  that  the  enemy  had  neglected  to  occupy  a  height 
on  his  left  flank ;  and,  without  losing  a  moment,  I 
ordered  General  Ampudia's  light  brigade  to  take  posses 
sion  of,  and  hold  it  at  every  cost.  As  the  brigade  came 
up,  I  formed  them  in  two  lines  on  a  rising  ground  that 
fronted  the  enemy,  there  being  another  eminence  be 
tween  our  two  positions  ;  the  first  division  of  infantry 
was  under  the  command  of  General  Lombardini,  and  the 
second  under  the  command  of  General  Pacheco.  I  di 
rected  that  General  Mora  y  Villamil,  in  conjunction  with 
the  commanding  general  of  artillery,  Don  Antonio 
Corona,  should  find  a  position  for  a  battery  of  sixteen- 


TAYLOR.  199 

pounders,  to  be  sustained  by  the  regiment  of  engineers, 
Two  other  batteries,  of  twelve  and  eight-pounders,  were 
located  by  me.  The  cavalry,  commanded  by  General 
Juvera,  were  placed  on  the  right  of  our  rear,  and  on  our 
left  flank.  The  regiment  of  hussars  was  also  posted  in. 
the  rear,  and  on  the  flank  aforesaid  was  a  height  which 
I  ordered  the  battalion  of  Leon  to  occupy.  The  gene 
ral  park  was  in  the  rear,  covered  by  the  brigade  of  Gen 
eral  Andrade,  and  between  this  park  and  the  lines  of 
battle  I  took  my  own  position. 

The  making  of  these  dispositions,  as  maybe  supposed, 
occupied  some  time,  for  the  troops  arrived  at  their  posi 
tions  after  a  march  of  more  than  twenty  leagues.  It  was 
therefore  not  an  hour  for  combat,  and  the  army  lay  on 
its  arms.  The  enemy,  however,  so  soon  as  he  perceived 
that  we  had  occupied  the  height  that  flanked  his  left  and 
our  right,  despatched  two  battalions  to  dislodge  us, 
which  led  to  a  warm  engagement,  that  lasted  all  the 
afternoon  and  till  after  dark,  when  he  was  repulsed  with  a 
loss  of  400  men,  according  to  the  report  of  the 
prisoners.  Ours  was  much  less,  as  we  had  the  advan 
tage  of  the  ground.  , 

At  dawn  on  the  23d  I  mounted  my  horse  ;  the  enemy 
had  not  changed  his  previous  dispositions,  and  was 
ready  to  receive  us.  I  observed  but  one  difference, 
which  was,  that  on  his  right,  and  at  some  distance  from 
his  position,  he  had  formed  two  bodies  of  infantry,  with 
a  battery  of  four  pieces,  as  if  with  the  intent  of  threat 
ening  our  left  flank,  but  I  at  once  believed  this  to  be  a 
mere  demonstration,  for  he  would  never  have  left  in  his 
rear  the  difficult  ground  which  gave  strength  to  that 
position,  being  the  web  of  impassable  ravines  before 
referred  to.  I,  therefore,  gave  no  attention  to  this  dis 
position  of  his  forces,  and  resolved  to  move  mine  by  the 


200  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

right.  With  this  intention,  I  advanced  the  divisions  of 
General  Lombardini  and  General  Pacheco  in  that  direc 
tion.  I  ordered  General  Don  Manuel  Micheltorena  to 
plant  the  battery  of  eight-pounders  on  our  right  flank,  so 
as  to  rake  obliquely  the  enemy's  line,  and  to  remain  with 
the  staff,  of  which  he  was  chief,  and  await  my  orders. 
I  directed  that  General  Ampudia,  with  the  light  brigade, 
should  charge  by  our  left  flank  on  the  enemy's  right,  and 
that  General  Mora  y  Villamil  should  form  a  column  of 
attack  composed  of  the  regiment  of  engineers,  the  12th 
battalion,  the  fijo  de  Mexico,  and  the  companies  of 
Puebla  and  Tampico,  commanded  by  Colonel  Don  San 
tiago  Blanco.  At  the  same  time,  I  directed  General 
Corona,  commanding  the  artillery,  to  place  the  battery  of 
twelve-pounders  in  a  more  commanding  position,  while 
the  3d  division  remained  in  reserve,  under  Brevet-Gene 
ral  Don  Jose  Maria  Ortega. 

So  soon  as  the  enemy  perceived  our  movements  he 
commenced  the  action  at  all  points,  attacked  our  troops 
with  intrepidity,  and  maintained  the  conflict  with  great 
vigottr.  Our  men.  received  them  with  proper  energy, 
driving  back  and  following  up  the  assailants.  At  this 
time  my  horse  was  disabled  by  a  grape-shot,  and  it  was 
some  time  before  I  could  mount  another.  As  the  enemy 
had  yielded  ground,  I  ordered  the  cavalry  to  advance 
and  charge,  which  was  done  with  vigour.  Suitable 
orders  had  been  sent  to  the  generals  of  division  and 
brigade,  among  the  rest  to  General  Don  Angel  Guz 
man  ;  but,  though  the  officers  and  troops  acted  with  great 
resolution,  it  was  impossible  to  overcome  the  difficulties 
of  the  ground  ;  and  after  a  struggle  which  did  them 
honour,  they  were  obliged  to  fall  back  to  their  positions. 
After  various  alternations,  the  same  occurred  with  the 
infantry. 


TAYLOR.  201 

The  battle,  which  commenced  at  seven  in  the  morning, 
was  prolonged  for  many  hours,  our  loss  every  moment 
accumulating.  Many  officers  and  soldiers  had  already 
been  killed,  and  a  number  of  commanders  and  distin 
guished  officers  wounded,  among  whom  were  General 
Lombardini,  Lieutenant-Colonels  Brito,  Galloso,  and 
others.  Among  the  slain  were  Lieutenant-Colonels 
Asonos,  Berra,  and  other  meritorious  officers,  whose  loss 
the  country  will  ever  lament.  The  enemy  maintained 
his  ground  with  the  utmost  obstinacy,  insomuch  that 
some  of  our  troops  faltered  in  their  attacks,  and  many 
of  the  raw  recruits  dispersed.  This,  however,  ought  to 
exalt  the  merit  of  those  whose  intrepidity  was  never 
paralyzed,  and  may  also  be  cited  to  show  how  hotly 
contested  was  the  action. 

Things  were  in  this  situation  when  I  concluded  to 
make  the  final  effort.  With  this  view  I  ordered  that  a 
battery  of  twenty-four  pounders  should  be  mounted ;  that 
the  column  of  attack  then  posted  on  our  left  flank,  where  it 
had  no  object  of  operation,  should  be  transferred  to  our 
right,  and  there  be  joined  by  the  remains  of  the  llth 
regiment,  the  battalion  of  Leon,  and  the  reserves,  all 
under  the  command  of  Brevet-General  Don  Francisco 
Perez.  I  executed  this  in  person,  and  afterwards  sent 
for  General  Mora  y  Villamil,  and  made  him  acquainted 
with  my  final  dispositions.  I  had  already  directed  Gen 
erals  Perez  and  Pacheco,  each  with  his  command,  to  be 
prepared  for  an  extreme  struggle,  and  had  ordered  the 
battery  of  eight-pounders  to  advance  and  take  the  enemy's 
line  in  flank.  The  charge  was  made  with  daring  valour 
and  was  resisted  with  animated  vigour,  with  a  fire  so 
heavy  and  rapid  as  to  cause  admiration ;  but  the  Ameri 
cans  could  not  sustain  themselves — they  were  driven 
back  and  overcome,  with  the  loss  of  three  pieces  of  can- 


202  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

non  and  as  many  stands  of  colours.  I  sent  two  of  the 
latter  to  the  government  with  my  last  despatch  ;  the 
other,  which  I  then  omitted  to  notice,  will  be  presented 
to  the  honourable  congress  of  the  state  of  San  Luis 
Potosi,  as  a  testimonial  of  the  army's  gratitude  for  the 
patriotic  services  they  had  rendered,  and  the  generous 
sacrifices  they  had  made  for  its  benefit.  We  moreover 
captured  a  travelling  forge,  and  some  smaller  articles, 
which  I  will  not  enumerate.  Our  cavalry,  which  so 
bravely  executed  the  order  to  charge,  reached  the  enemy's 
rearmost  positions ;  but,  owing  to  the  nature  of  the 
ground  and  the  fatigue  of  the  men  and  horses,  I  did  not 
think  it  prudent  to  attempt  to  dislodge  them  from  those. 
The  battle  closed  at  six  in  the  evening,  our  troops  being 
then  formed  on  the  ground  which  the  Americans  had 
occupied.  Our  last  effort  would  have  heen  decisive,  if 
General  Minon  had  done  his  part  by  attacking  the  enemy 
in  the  rear ;  but  he  omitted  to  do  it,  and  I  am  under  the 
painful  necessity  of  subjecting  his  conduct  to  a  court- 
martial,  that  he  may  explain  it.  An  action  thus  con 
tested  necessarily  involved  considerable  loss.  Ours  in 
killed  and  wounded  amounted  to  more  than  1500  men, 
and  that  of  the  enemy  was  much  greater,  for  we  had 
time  to  take  a  view  of  the  great  number  of  their  dead. 

The  plans  of  these  two  actions,  and  of  the  route  from 
Agua  Nueva  to  Saltillo,  and  the  reports  of  the  generals 
of  division  and  brigade,  which  I  send  with  this  to  your 
excellency,  will  give  the  supreme  government  an  idea 
of  such  details  as  I  have  not  dwelt  on  without  making 
this  report  more  diffuse  ;  but  this  will  still  serve  to  attest 
the  bravery  of  our  troops,  and  the  glory  acquired  by  the 
nation  during  these  days  of  action. 

In  the  order  of  the  day,  I  expressed,  as  in  duty  bound, 
my  satisfaction  with  the  conduct  of  the  officers,  com- 


TAYLOR.  203 

manders  of  corps,  and  generals,  and  gave  them  thanks 
for  it  in  the  name  of  the  republic.  I  could  wish  to 
announce  in  this  report  the  names  of  numerous  com 
manding  officers,  that  their  memory  may  be  engraved  on 
the  gratitude  of  the  nation,  not  only  for  their  resolute  and 
honourable  deportment  in  both  actions,  but  for  the  con 
stancy  with  which  they  have  overcome  so  many  priva 
tions,  sufferings,  and  fatigues,  and  given  therein  an 
example,  both  of  civic  and  military  worth.  Anxious  to 
do  this  justice,  I  adopt,  as  my  own,  the  authorship  of 
those  eulogies  which  the  generals  of  brigade  and  division 
have  bestowed  on  their  subordinates.  I  would,  more 
over,  place  in  view  of  the  government  the  merit  mani 
fested  by  the  director-general  of  Engineers,  Don  Ignacio 
Mora  y  Villamil,  who  fulfilled,  to  my  entire  satisfaction, 
all  the  duties  I  assigned  to  him,  for  which  I  consider  him 
worthy  of  the  highest  praise,  and  of  such  remuneration 
as  the  supreme  government  may  be  pleased  to  award  to 
his  distinguished  services.  General  Ampudia,  to  whom, 
from  the  favourable  opinion  which  I  had  of  him,  I 
intrusted  the  command  of  the  four  light  battalions, 
acquitted  himself  with  gallantry.  General  Lombardini, 
who  commanded  the  first  division  of  infantry,  conducted 
himself  with  valour,  and  was  wounded.  General 
Pacheco,  commanding  the  second  division  of  infantry, 
came  up  to  my  orders  and  his  duties,  and  fought  to  my 
satisfaction.  General  Juvera  comported  himself  hon 
ourably,  and  had  his  horse  killed  under  him.  Brevet- 
General  Torrejon  received  a  contusion,  and  General 
Guzman  displayed  the  gallantry  for  which  he  was  already 
distinguished,  and  was  wounded.  Brevet-General 
Micheltorena,  as  head  of  the  staff,  duly  performed  all 
that  belonged  to  his  station ;  and  I  also  confided  to  his 
special  charge  the  battery  of  eight-pounders,  which  was 


204  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

that  most  in  advance.  General  Perez  acted  as  might 
be  expected  from  his  accustomed  gallantry,  and  for  this 
I  intrusted  to  his  command  the  troops  I  have  before 
mentioned,  with  which  he  contributed  to  disorder  the 
line  of  the  enemy  at  five  in  the  evening.  I  would  also 
commend  General  Ortega,  who  commanded  the  third 
division  of  foot,  and  performed  his  duties  to  my  satis 
faction,  as  also  Brevet- General  Uraga,  and  Generals 
Parrodi,  Portilla,  Vasquez,  Jauregui,  Terres,  and  San 
chez. 

It  is  entirely  due  to  the  commanding  general  of 
artillery,  Don  Antonio  Corona,  that  I  should  commend 
him  for  carrying  out  my  dispositions,  as  might  be 
expected  from  him,  and  for  labouring  assiduously  at 
San  Luis,  in  the  heaviest  duties  of  his  branch  of  service ; 
and  it  is  a  pleasing  duty  for  me  to  laud  the  merit 
acquired  by  Colonel  Banencli,  and  Colonel  Brito,  who 
was  wounded ;  Colonel  Aldrede,  of  the  hussars,  who, 
to  my  satisfaction,  evinced  his  usual  bravery;  Colonel 
S.  Blanco,  who  commanded  a  column  of  attack  on  the 
left,  and  acted  well,  and  Colonel  M.  Blanco — both 
of  the  last  being  of  the  engineers — as  also  Colonel 
Obando,  of  the  flying  artillery,  and  Colonel  Garay. 

[Here  follows  a  long  list  of  colonels,  lieutenant- 
colonels,  captains,  and  subordinates,  who  are  all  com 
mended,  and  the  particular  service  of  some  mentioned. 
One  is  named  Antonio  Lopez  de  Santana,  late  a 
custom-house  officer  at  Tampico,  who  acted  as  a 
volunteer  aid  to  his  namesake,  the  general-in-chief.] 

The  report  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  which  I  also 
send,  will  show  what  has  been  our  loss.  I  should  be 
lacking  in  justice,  and  not  express  my  own  feelings,  were 
I  not  most  earnestly  to  request  that  attention  be  paid, 
as  is  by  law  provided,  to  the  cases  of  the  widows, 


TAYLOR.  205 

orphans,  arid  such    of   the  wounded  as  may  be  perma 
nent!)'  disabled. 

The  formidable  position  which  the  enemy  occupied, 
was  all  that  saved  him;  the  victory  would  otherwise 
have  been  decisive,  notwithstanding  his  obstinate  resist 
ance.  Still  this  triumph  will  have  favourable  results  to 
the  national  cause,  as  it  will  show  to  every  one  what 
can  be  accomplished  when  all  hearts  are  united,  and 
with  one  aim.  > 

The  army  has  done  more  than  could  be  expected  un 
der  the  laws  of  nature.  It  had  just  been  formed,  and  as 
yet  had  not  acquired  discipline  or  military  habits ;  yet  in 
marching  to  the  combat,  it  overcame  difficulties  which 
might  have  subdued  the  stoutest  heart.  After  a  march 
of  twenty  leauges,  sixteen  of  them  without  water,  arid 
without  other  food  than  a  single  ration,  which  was  dealt 
out  at  Encarnacion,  it  endured  the  fatigue  of  combat  for 
two  days,  and  finally  triumphed.  With  all  this,  its 
physical  powers  were  exhausted.  My  knowledge  of 
this,  arid  the  duty  I  felt  of  attending  to  such  a  number 
of  wounded,  constrained  me,  after  remaining  a  few  hours 
on  the  field  of  battle,  to  fall  back  upon  Agua  Nueva,  for 
the  relief  and  refreshment  of  the  troops. 

From  the  impression  we  had  made  on  the  enemy,  he 
did  not  appear  before  us  for  three  days.  The  bearer  of 
a  flag  of  truce,  however,  arrived  with  a  proposition  from 
General  Taylor  for  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  and  for 
our  sending  for  the  wounded  who  had  remained  on  the 
field.  He  also  expressed  to  me  the  desire  which  the 
Americans  felt  for  the  re-establishment  of  peace.  I  re 
plied,  in  order  that  he  might  say  the  same  to  his  general, 
that  we  sustained  the  most  sacred  of  causes — the  defence 
of  our  territory,  and  the  preservation  of  our  nationality 
and  rights;  that  we  were  not  the  aggressors,  and  that  our 


206  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

government  had  never  offended  that  of  the  United  States. 
/  observed  that  we  could  say  nothing  of  peace  while  the 
Americans  were  on  this  side  of  the  Bravo,  or  occupied 
any  part  of  the  Mexican  territory,  or  blockaded  our 
ports  ;  and  that  we  were  resolved  to  perish  or  vindicate 
our  rights; -that  fortune  might  not  be  always  favourable 
to  the  enemy,  and  their  experience  of  the  22d  and  23d 
should  convince  them  that  it  could  change;  I  added,  that 
the  Americans  waged  against  us  a  war  of  vandalism, 
•whose  excesses  outraged  those  sentiments  of  humanity 
which  one  civilized  nation  ought  to  evince  towards  ano 
ther  ;  and  that  if  he  would  go  outside  of  the  apartment, 
he  would  still  see  smoking,  wrhich  was  the  fact,  the 
dwellings  of  Agua  Nueva,  recently  a  flourishing,  though 
a  small  settlement ;  that  the  same  vestiges  of  desolation 
marked  the  route  of  his  retreat ;  and  that  if  he  would  go 
a  little  further  on,  to  Catana,  he  would  hear  the  moans 
of  the  widows  and  orphans  of  innocent  victims  who  had 
been  sacrificed  without  necessity. 

With  respect  to  the  wounded,  whom  I  was  invited  to 
send  for,  I  replied  that  there  could  be  none  save  those 
who  had  been  too  much  hurt  to  rise  from  the  field,  or 
those  most  in  the  advance,  who  had  remained  in  the  ra 
vines  ;  and  that  as  I  had  not  means  for  their  conveyance, 
the  enemy  might  take  them  to  Saltillo,  under  the  protec 
tion  of  the  laws  of  nations.  As  for  the  prisoners  which 
he  offered  to  exchange,  I  told  him  I  did  not  know  who 
they  could  be,  unless  it  were  some  of  our  dispersed 
troops,  or  some  who,  from  the  fatigue  of  the  two  previous 
days,  had  remained  asleep  when  we  moved.  In  answer 
to  the  courtesy  the  enemy's  general  had  shown  with  re 
spect  to  our  wounded,  I  consented,  in  the  name  of  the 
nation,  to  release  all  the  prisoners  we  had — those  taken 
both  in  the  battle  and  at  Encarnacion.  At  the  same 


TAYLOR.  207 

time  1  allowed  the  bearer  of  the  flag,  who  was  a  superior 
officer,  of  prepossessing  appearance  arid  manners,  to  take 
the  bandage  from  his  eyes,  and  informed  him  that  it  was 
for  him  personally  that  the  honour  of  this  concession  was 
meant.  I  did  ij  also  that  he  might  see  our  camp  and  our 
troops. 

As  I  have  said  in  the  preceding  paragraph,  we  re 
mained  at  the  hacienda  three  days  ;  but  the  only  supply 
we  could  obtain  was  ninety  beeves,  and  these  were  con 
sumed  on  the  25th.  The  horses  were  also  without  for 
age,  and  notwithstanding  all  the  efforts  or  provisions  that 
I  could  make,  many  of  the  wounded  had  been  but  once 
attended  to,  and  some  not  at  all.  From  the  rigour  of  the 
climate,  the  badness  and  scantiness  of  the  sustenance,  the 
entire  want  of  bread,  and  the  bad  quality  of  the  water 
used  in  our  former  bivouacs,  a  bowel  complaint  had 
broken  out  in  the  army,  and  rendered  ineffective  at  least 
one-half  of  it.  I  knew  that  a  retrograde  movement  to 
our  former  positions  had  become  inevitable  ;  but  though 
everything  around  me  proclaimed  this  necessity,  my 
feelings  revolted  against  it,  solely  because  I  foresaw  that 
from  ignorance,  malice,  or  presumption,  the  countermarch 
would  be  condemned,  and  that  those  who  did  not  witness 
our  situation  would  imagine  the  possibility  of  the  army's 
continuing  its  operations.  • 

Six  days  before,  when  the  troops  had  not  suffered  so 
much,  nor  fought  for  two  successive  days,  nor  been  em 
barrassed  with  sick  and  wounded,  but  were  still  sound  in 
morale  and  in  health,  I  had  not  deemed  it  prudent  to 
augment  the  labours  and  difficulties  of  the  army  by 
moving  to  the  right  or  to  the  left ;  how  then  would  k 
have  been  possible  to  go  on  operating  after  all  that  sub 
sequently  occurred  ?  But  let  detractors  say  what  they 
will,  the  army  as  well  as  myself  will  always  answer  by 


208  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

an  appeal  to  our  conduct,  our  wishes,  arid  the  notorious 
impossibility  of  carrying  them  out.  Notwithstanding 
my  conviction,  I  wished  to  hear  the  opinion  of  the  gene 
rals  and  some  of  the  commanders  of  corps,  and  to 
ascertain  if  they  could  point  out  any  re^urce  which  had 
not  occurred  to  me  ;  without  disclosing  my  own  ideas  on 
the  subject  I  listened  to  theirs,  and  they  all  unanimously 
and  each  one,  by  his  opinion,  separately  expressed, 
showed  and  demonstrated  in  various  ways,  that  however 
good  their  will  to  remain,  the  countermarch  of  the  army 
had  become  indispensable,  but  that  this  necessity  was 
not  forced  upon  us  by  the  enemy.  It  was  not  till  I  had 
heard  their  opinions  that  I  announced  my  own  accordant 
resolution,  and  the  proceedings  of  the  council  being 
drawn  up,  I  had  the  honour  of  remitting  them  to  your 
excellency  on  the  25th. 

On  the  26th,  after  I  had  ordered  General  Minon  to 
follow  the  movement,  the  army  commenced  its  retreat 
with  the  view  of  occupying  the  first  peopled  localities, 
where  resources  might  be  obtained,  such  as  Vanegas 
Catorce,  El  Cadral,  nnd  Matehuala,  as  also  Tula;  but 
I  doubt  if  in  those  places  proper  attention  can  be  given 
to  the  sick  and  wounded — or  the  losses  we  have  sustained 
in  those  laborious  movements  be  remedied. 

The  nation,  for  which  a  triumph  has  been  gained  at 
the  cost  of  so  many  sufferings,  will  learn  that,  if  we  were 
able  to  conquer  in  the  midst  of  so  many  embarrassments, 
there  will  be  no  doubt  as  to  our  final  success  in  the 
struggle  we  sustain,  if  every  spirit  but  rallies  to  the  one 
sacred  object  of  common  defence.  A  mere  determined 
number  of  men  will  not,  as  many  imagine,  suffice  for  the 
prosecution  of  war:  it  is  indispensable  that  they  be 
armed,  equipped,  disciplined,  and  habituated,  and  that  a  sys 
tematized  support  for  such  an  organized  force  be  provided. 


TAYLOR.  209 

We  must  bear  in  mind  that  we  have  to  combat  in  a 
region  deficient  of  all  resources,  and  that  everything  for 
subsistence  has  to  be  carried  along  with  the  soldiery :  the 
good-will  of  a  few  will  not  suffice,  but  the  co-operation 
of  all  is  needed  ;  and  if  we  do  not  cast  aside  selfish  inter 
ests,  and  petty  passions,  we  can  expect  nothing  but  dis 
aster.  The  army,  and  myself  who  have  led  it,  have  the 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that  we  have  demonstrated  this 
truth. 

Your  excellency  will  be  pleased  to  report  to  his  ex 
cellency  the  vice  president  of  the  republic,  and  to 
present  to  him  my  assurance  of  respect. 

God  and  Liberty !     Rancho  de  San  Salvador,  Febru 
ary  27th,  1847. 
(Signed) 

ANTONIO  LOPEZ  DE  SANTA  ANNA. 
To  His  Excellency,  the  MINISTER  OF  WAR  AND  MARINE. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Events  subsequent  to  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista. 

ON  the  2d  of  March,  Mr.  Crittenden,  to  whose  report 
we  have  already  referred,  was  sent  off  for  the  seat  of 
government,  bearing  despatches  from  General  Taylor. 
He  took  the  usual  route  from  Monterey  to  Camargo, 
under  the  escort  of  about  250  troops,  commanded  by 
Major  Geddings,  having  along  a  train  of  some  130 
empty  wagons.  As  they  approached  Seralvo,  a  small 
party  was  sent  in  to  provide  forage,  &c.,  when  the  ene 
my,  under  Urrea,  were  discovered,  about  1500  strong. 
Our  troops  were  immediately  placed  on  the  defensive, 
and  received  the  assault  of  the  superior  numbers  with  the 
resolution  of  men  determined  to  cut  their  way  through. 
They  w?ere  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  thirty  men,  while  we 
lost  about  half  the  number.  A  part  of  our  baggage 
train  was  destroyed  (forty  or  fifty  of  the  wagons),  when 
the  gallant  Urrea  made  good  his  retreat  in  the  direction 
of  the  Tula  pass.  The  teamsters  were  unwilling  to  pro 
ceed  without  a  stronger  escort,  and  Mr.  Crittenden  was 
detained  five  or  six  days  at  Seralvo,  when  Colonel 
Curtis  arrived  from  Camargo  with  a  large  body  of 
troops.  He  was  too  late  to  overtake  Urrea,  who  had 
probably  commenced  his  retreat  as  soon  as  he  heard  of 
Santa  Anna's  discomfiture.  Colonel  Curtis  proceeded 
towards  Monterey,  and  the  escort  and  train  came  on  to 
Camargo,  the  enemy  having  fled  as  rapidly  as  possible. 

In  this  affair  an  ammunition  wagon,  by  some  accident, 


TAYLOR.  211 

was  cut  off'  with  the  others  near  Seralvo.  It  was 
destroyed,  as  most  of  the  others  were,  by  fire,  and  when 
the  explosion  unexpectedly  took  place,  killing  some, 
wounding  others,  and  alarming  all,  it  was  regarded 
as  a  Yankee  trick,  and  it  was  remarked  that  our  wagons 
might  henceforth  stroll  through  the  land,  unharmed,  as 
each  would  be  regarded  as  some  combustible  machine, 
designed  to  ensnare  the  Mexicans.' 

After  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  General  Taylor  left 
his  encampment  at  Agua  Nueva,  with  two  companies  of 
Bragg's  artillery  and  Colonel  May's  squadron  of  dragoons, 
in  pursuit  of  General  Urrea,  who,  as  the  general  learned 
from  a  spy  that  was  captured  by  one  of  the  Texan  ran 
gers,  was  retreating  towards  the  mountains  with  5000 
cavalry  and  rancheros. 

On  the  16th  of  March,  General  Taylor  met  Colonel 
Curtis  near  Marin.  This  officer,  with  about  1200  infan 
try,  composed  of  Ohio  and  Virginia  volunteers,  one 
company  of  dragoons,  and  two  pieces  of  artillery,  was 
now  in  charge  of  another  train  of  wagons,  with  supplies 
for  the  army.  General  Urrea  had  left  Marin  the  even 
ing  before,  where  he  was  said  to  be  waiting  to  attack 
Curtis's  train  ;  but  learning  that  General  Taylor  was  ad 
vancing  on  his  rear,  he  had  made  a  rapid  movement  some 
twenty  miles  from  Marin.  General  Taylor  followed  in 
pursuit  the  next  morning,  after  sending  on  the  train 
without  an  escort,  and  adding  Colonel  Curtis's  command 
to  his  previous  force. 

General  Taylor  pursued  the  enemy  as  far  as  Caidereta, 
where  he  ascertained  that  he  had  escaped  beyond  the 
mountains.  General  Taylor  then  fell  back  upon  Mon 
terey.  By  the  latest  advices  from  the  army,  29th  March, 
he  was  encamped  at  Walnut  Springs,  about  four  miles 
from  Monterey.  His  force  consisted  of  a  squadron  of 

' 


212  TAYLOB  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

dragoons,  under  Colonel  Fauntleroy,  and  the  Mississippi 
regiment  of  volunteers,  under  Colonel  Jefferson  Davis, 
the  latter  numbering  only  248  men.  General  Wool, 
with  about  5000  troops,  was  encamped  at  Buena  Vista. 
ft  was  reported  that  General  Urrea  was  at  Linares,  at  the 
head  of  2000  cavalry,  and  a  corps  of  artillerists.  There 
was  some  prospect  of  "  an  affair"  coming  off  between 
the  respective  forces  of  these  two  generals. 

The  character  of  General  Taylor  is  best  displayed  by 
his  actions  in  the  present  war.  Every  emergency  in 
which  the  qualities  of  a  great  commander  could  shine 
forth  in  full  brilliancy,  has  presented  him  anew  to  the 
admiration  of  his  country.  The  reputation  which  he 
had  acquired  at  Fort  Harrison  and  Okee  Chobee,  inspired 
confidence  at  the  moment  when  it  became  known  that 
he  was  hemmed  in  by  multitudes  of  Mexicans  on  the 
banks  of  the  Rio  Grande  ;  and  when  he  announced  that 
"he  should  fight  the  enemy,  in  whatever  numbers  he 
might  appear,"  it  was  confidently  believed  that  he  would 
conquer  or  perish.  The  brilliant  victories  of  Palo  Alto 
and  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  nevertheless  excited  astonish 
ment  mingled  with  admiration.  The  siege  of  Monterey 
was  a  new  surprise.  The  hardihood  of  this  enterprise 
was  still  more  remarkable  than  the  cool  determination 
and  firmness  called  forth  by  the  preceding  battles.  Such 
incidents  as  the  following,  evince  the  lofty  spirit  of 
chivalry  in  which  the  Monterey  affair  was  conducted 
throughout. 

The  first  shot  fired  at  Monterey  was  from  one  of  the 
long  culverins,  aimed  at  General  Taylor  himself,  whilst 
reconnoitering.  It  struck  a  short  distance  in  front  of 
him  and  bounded  over  his  head.  "  There !  I  knew  it 
would  fall  short  of  me,"  he  calmly  remarked. 


TAYLOR.  213 

One  anecdote  of  General  Taylor  at  Monterey,  told 
by  his  staff,  has  never  appeared  in  print.  In  traversing 
the  field  of  battle,  it  was  necessary  to  cross  a  bridge 
which  was  constantly  swept  by  the  Mexican  artillery. 
When  approaching  it,  it  was  agreed  that  they  (the  gen 
eral  and  his  staff)  should  cross  it  singly  at  a  gallop. 
Four  had  crossed  thus,  when  it  came  to  the  general's 
turn.  Just  as  he  reached  the  middle  of  the  bridge,  and 
when  the  balls  were  showering  around  him,  something 
going  wrong  in  another  part  of  the  field  attracted  his 
attention.  Stopping  his  horse  (much  to  the  discom 
fiture  of  those  following  him),  he  deliberately  took  out 
and  arranged  his  spy-glass,  satisfied  himself,  and  then 
closing  it,  rode  on. 

But  the  crowning  glory  was  that  terrible  battle  of 
Buena  Vista.  It  reminds  us  of  Cromwell  at  Dunbar,  but 
with  the  very  important  difference  that  the  victory  of 
Dunbar  was  gained  by  mailed  veterans,  the  famous  Iron 
sides  of  a  hundred  battles,  while  that  of  Buena  Vista 
was  won  by  new  recruits,  well  officered  it  is  true,  but 
elevated  to  the  highest  moral  tone  of  military  daring, 
chiefly  by  their  undoubting  reliance  on  the  commander 
"  who  never  surrenders."  •  All  the  incidents  of  the  battle 
which  we  have  already  narrated  present  the  same  view 
of  General  Taylor's  traits.  They  are  all  consistent,  un 
affected,  simple,  forming  a  grand  whole  which  has  rarely 
been  rivalled,  never  surpassed. 

But  the  military  resources  of  General  Taylor's  char 
acter  by  no  means  comprise  the  whole  of  his  merit.  To 
the  highest  order  of  genius  as  a  commander,  he  adds  the 
noblest  virtues  of  the  man.  He  is  always  magnanimous 
in  his  character  of  a  conqueror,  humane  to\vards  the 
wounded  and  the  captive,  and  sympathizing  towards  the 
friends  of  those  who  fall  bv  his  side  in  the  field.  This 


214  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

beautiful  trait  is  well  expressed  in  a  letter  to  the  Hon. 
Henry  Clay,  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  his  gallant 
son  at  Buena  Vista.  As  a  composition  it  has  received 
4jie  enthusiastic  admiration  of  the  leading  authors  and 
critics  of  our  country  ;  but  its  chief  value  consists  in 
those  noble  feelings  of  the  heart  by  which  it  was  dictated. 
With  this  letter  we  close  our  present  notice  of  General 
Taylor's  life,  services,  and  character.  It  shines  as  a  star 
of  mild  but  beaming  lustre  on  his  war-worn  brow. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION,  ) 
Agua  Nuevctj  Mexico,  March  1.  1847.  ) 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  You  will  no  doubt  have  received,  be 
fore  this  can  reach  you,  the  deeply  distressing  intelli 
gence  of  the  death  of  your  son  in  the  battle  of  Buena 
Vista.  It  is  with  no  wish  of  intruding  upon  the  sanc 
tuary  of  parental  sorrow,  and  with  no  hope  of  adminis 
tering  any  consolation  to  your  wounded  heart,  that  I  have 
taken  the  liberty  of  addressing  you  these  few  lines  ;  but 
I  have  felt  it  a  duty  which  I  owe  to  the  memory  of  the 
distinguished  dead,  to  pay  a  willing  tribute  to  his  many 
excellent  qualities,  and  while  my  feelings  are  still  fresh, 
to  express  the  desolation  whfch  his  untimely  loss  and 
that  of  other  kindred  spirits  has  occasioned. 

I  had  but  a  casual  acquaintance  with  your  son,  until 
he  became  for  a  time  a  member  of  my  military  family, 
and  I  can  truly  say  that  no  one  ever  won  more  rapidly 
upon  my  regard,  or  established  a  more  lasting  claim  to 
my  respect  and  esteem.  Manly  and  honourable  in  ever)' 
impulse,  with  no  feeling  but  for  the  honour  of  the  service 
and  of  the  country,  he  gave  every  assurance  that  in  the 
hour  of  need  I  could  lean  with  confidence  upon  his  sup 
port.  Nor  was  I  disappointed.  Under  the  guidance  of 
himself  and  the  lamented  McKee,  gallantly  did  the  sons 


TAYLOR.  215 

of  Kentucky,  in  the  thickest  of  the  strife,  uphold  the 
honour  of  the  state  and  the  country. 

A  grateful  people  will  do  justice  to  the  memory  of 
those  who  fell  on  that  eventful  day.  But  I  may  be  peiv 
mitted  to  express  the  bereavement  which  I  feel  in  the 
loss  of  valued  friends.  To  your  son  I  felt  bound  by  the 
strongest  ties  of  private  regard ;  and  when  I  miss  his  fa 
miliar  face,  and  those  of  McKee  and  Hardin,  I  can  say 
with  truth,  that  I  feel  no  exultation  in  our  success. 

With  the  expression  of  my  deepest  and  most  heartfelt 
sympathies  for  your  irreparable  loss,  I  remain, 

Your  friend, 

Z.  TAYLOR. 
HON.  HENRY  CLAY,  New  Orleans,  La. 


14 


ffOJ 


WORTH 


MAJOR-GENERAL  WILLIAM  J.  WORTH. 


WORTH. 

GENERAL  WILLIAM  J  WORTH,  who  has  so  conspicu 
ously  distinguished  his  name  in  the  present  war  with 
Mexico,  is  one  of  the  sons  of  the  Pilgrims.  He  belongs 
to  one  of  the  oldest  New  England  families.  In  early 
life  he  was  afforded  the  means  of  a  solid  English  educa 
tion,  and  he  so  far  availed  himself  of  them,  as  to  present 
invariably  the  appearance  of  an  accomplished  as  well  as 
able  officer. 

When  quite  young,  Worth  was  engaged  as  a  clerk  in 
some  mercantile  house  at  Albany ;  but  the  military 
ardour,  which  forms  a  large  element  of  his  character, 
induced  him  to  enlist,  just  before  the  opening  of  the  war 
of  1812,  as  a  private  in  the  regular  army.  Another 
clerk  was  his  companion,  in  what  must  have  been 
esteemed  by  their  friends  a  rather  Quixotic  enterprise. 
It  was  not  long  before  Worth's  friend  committed  some 
indiscretion  and  was  placed  under  arrest.  He  was  in  de 
spair:  Worth,  instead  of  deserting  him  in  his  disgrace, 
told  him  to  pluck  up  courage,  and  address  a  memorial 
to  General  (then  Colonel)  Scott,  praying  to  be  excused. 
The  poor  fellow  confessed  his  utter  inability  to  write  one. 
"  I  will  write  one  for  you,"  says  Worth  ;  and  accord 
ingly  it  was  done.  When  it  was  presented,  General 
Scott  read  it  attentively  and  said  to  the  delinquent,  "  Did 
you  write  this  paper?" 

"No,  sir." 

"  Who  did  write  it  ?" 


220  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

"  Private  Worth  wrote  it,  sir." 

"  You  are  excused.     Send  Private  Worth  to  me." 

On  receiving  this  notice,  Worth  was  apprehensive  that 
he  had  got  himself  into  a  scrape,  by  attempting  to  get  his 
friend  out  of  one.  His  astonishment  therefore  may  be 
imagined,  when  on  presenting  himself  at  the  colonel's 
quarters,  the  following  short  dialogue  ensued. 

"  Are  you  Private  Worth  ?" 

"  I  am,  sir." 

"  Did  you  write  this  paper  ?"  (presenting  him  with  the 
memorial.) 

"  I  did,  sir." 

"  From  henceforward,  sir,  you  are  my  private  secre 
tary." 

Promotion  from  the  government,  obtained  through  the 
influence  of  Scott,  soon  followed,  and  on  the  19th  of 
March,  1812,  he  was  commissioned  as  first  lieutenant  of 
the  23d  regiment  of  infantry. 

His  first  opportunity  for  signalizing  himself,  was  at 
the  battle  of  Chippewa. 

It  was  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  July,  1814, 
that  General  Scott  advanced  with  his  brigade  and  corps 
of  artillery,  and  took  a  position  on  the  Chippewa  plain, 
half  a  mile  in  front  of  the  village,  his  right  resting  on  the 
river,  and  his  front  protected  by  a  ravine.  The  British 
were  encamped  in  force  at  the  village.  In  the  evening 
General  Brown  joined  him  writh  the  reserve  under  Gene 
ral  Ripley,  and  the  artillery,  commanded  by  Major  Hind- 
man.  General  Porter  arrived  the  next  morning,  with 
the  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  a  num 
ber  of  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations.  Early  in  the  morning 
of  the  5th,  the  British  commenced  a  firing  on  the  pick 
ets.  Captain  Treat,  who  commanded  one  of  them, 
hastily  retreated,  leaving  one  of  his  men  wounded  on 


WORTH.  221 

the  ground.  General  Brown  instantly  ordered  him  to 
retire  from  the  army,  and  directed  Captain  Biddle  to 
assume  the  command  of  the  picket,  lead  it  back  to  the 
ground,  and  bring  off  the  wounded  man ;  which  he 
accomplished  without  loss. 

At  four  in  the  afternoon,  General  Porter  advanced, 
taking  the  woods  in  order  to  conceal  his  approach,  and 
in  the  hope  of  bringing  their  pickets  and  scouting  parties 
between  his  line  of  march  and  the  American  camp.  In 
half  an  hour  his  advance  met  the  light  parties  of  the 
British  in  the  woods  on  the  left.  These  were  driven  in, 
and  Porter,  advancing  near  Chippewa,  met  the  whole 
British  force  approaching  in  order  of  battle.  General 
Scott,  with  his  brigade  and  Towson's  artillery,  met  them 
on  the  plain,  in  front  of  the  American  encampment,  and 
was  directly  engaged  in  close  action  with  the  main  body. 
General  Porter's  command  gave  way,  and  fled  in  every 
direction,  by  which  Scott's  left  flank  was  entirely 
uncovered.  Captain  Harris,  with  his  dragoons,  was 
ordered  to  stop  the  fugitives  at  the  ravine,  and  form 
them  in  front  of  the  camp.  The  reserve  were  now 
ordered  up,  and  General  Ripley  passed  to  the  woods  in 
left  of  the  line,  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  enemy;  but  before 
this  was  effected,  General  Scott  had  compelled  the  Bri 
tish  to  retire. 

Their  whole  line  now  fell  back,  and  were  eagerly  pur 
sued  by  the  Americans.  As  soon  as  they  reached  the 
sipping  ground  descending  towards  the  village,  their 
lines  broke,  and  they  regained  their  works  in  disorder. 
The  American  troops  pursued  until  within  reach  of  the 
guns  from  the  works ;  when  they  desisted  and  returned 
to  their  camp.  The  British  left  two  hundred  dead  on 
the  ground ;  ninety-four  wounded,  beside  those  in  the 
early  part  of  the  action,  who  were  removed  back  to  the 


222  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS, 

camp,  and  fourteen  prisoners.  The  American  loss  was 
sixty  killed,  and  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight  wounded 
and  missing.  4*  fa 

General  Brown,  in  his  official  despatch  giving  the 
details  of  this  celebrated  battle,  says,  the  family  of  Gene 
ral  Scott  (i.  e.  his  aids,  secretary,  &c.),  were  conspicu 
ous  in  the  field.  Lieutenant  Smith,  of  the  6th  infantry, 
the  major  of  the  brigade,  and  Lieutenants  WORTH  and 
Watts,  his  aids. 

Promotion  was  the  reward  of  Worth's  services  on 
this  occasion.  His  commission  as  captain  bears  date 
August  19th,  1814. 

We  will  now  follow  the  course  of  events  to  his  next 
promotion. 

After  the  battle  of  Chippewa,  the  British  retired  to 
Fort  George ;  and  General  Brown  took  post  at  Queens- 
town,  where  he  remained  some  time,  expecting  reinforce 
ments  and  aid  from  Sackett's  Harbour,  and  calculating 
that  with  them  he  should  be  able  to  dislodge  the  British 
and  obtain  possession  of  the  Peninsula. 

On  the  12th  of  July,  Brigadier-General  John  Swift, 
of  the  New  York  militia,  with  a  detachment  of  120 
volunteers,  reconnoitered  the  British  position  and 
works  at  Fort  George,  with  a  view  of  preparing  for 
an  investment  of  the  fort.  He  surprised  and  took  a 
picket  guard  of  six  men.  After  they  were  made  priso 
ners,  one  of  them  shot  the  general  through  the  body. 
The  alarm  occasioned  by  the  discharge  of  this  gun,  im 
mediately  brought  to  the  spot  a  British  patroling  party  of 
sixty.  General  Swift  immediately  formed  his  men, 
advanced  at  their  head,  and  commenced  a  successful 
engagement  on  the  patrol,  when  he  fell  exhausted  by 
the  loss  of  blood ;  the  other  officers,  animated  by  this 
last  example  of  their  general,  continued  the  action,  and 


WORTH.  223 

drove  the  enemy  into  the  fort.  They  then  returned  to 
camp,  bearing  their  expiring  commander  in  their  arms. 
He  died  the  same  evening,  and  was  interred  the  next  day 
with  military  honours. 

On  the  13th  of  July,  General  Brown  wrote  a  pressing 
letter  to  Commodore  Chauncey,  informing  him  of  his 
situation,  and  urging  an  immediate  co-operation.  He 
heard  nothing  from  the  fleet  until  the  1st  of  September, 
when  he  received  an  answer  from  the  commodore,  dated 
the  10th  of  August,  stating  that  the  fleet  had  not  been 
in  a  situation  to  co-operate  with  him,  that  it  could  have 
afforded  him  no  essential  aid  in  any  event ;  that  his  fleet 
was  destined  to  attack  the  British,  and  not  to  act  a 
subordinate  part  to  the  land  forces.  This  produced  a 
sharp  reply  from  General  Brown ;  the  correspondence 
ended  ;  and  the  general  and  commodore  pursued  their 
different  objects  without  any  co-operation. 

On  the  18th,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stone  was  detached 
with  a  corps  of  volunteers  to  dislodge  a  party  of  British 
troops,  who  were  near  the  village  of  St.  David's,  four 
miles  west  of  Queenstown,  watching  and  attacking  the 
American  reconnoitering  parties.  The  British  were 
routed  and  driven  in ;  and  soon  after  the  action,  the 
village  was  set  fire  to,  and  burned  by  some  Americans, 
without  the  orders  or  knowledge  of  the  commanding 
officer.  On  the  next  morning,  Colonel  Stone  received 
an  order  from  General  Brown,  stating  that  the  accounta 
bility  for  burning  the  houses  at  St.  David's  must  rest 
with  the  senior  officer :  that  it  was  directly  contrary  to 
the  orders  of  government,  and  of  the  commanding 
general.  The  order  concludes  in  these  words,  "  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Stone  will  retire  from  the  army." 
Whether  Colonel  Stone  was  guilty  of  negligence  in 
not  preventing  the  confl aeration,  does  not  appear.  But 


224  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

his  friends  considered  this  proceeding,  as  a  manifest 
usurpation  of  authority  riot  warranted  by  any  law ;  they 
claimed  that  an  officer,  holding  a  commission  under  the 
president,  holds  it  at  the  pleasure  of  the  supreme  execu 
tive,  and  no  intermediate  superior  officer  has  a  right  to 
deprive  him  of  his  command,  without  the  intervention 
of  a  court-martial,  where  he  may  be  tried  by  his  peers, 
and  have  an  opportunity  of  establishing  his  innocence. 
No  person  fit  to  bear  a  commission,  would  consent  to  hold 
one  subject  to  the  disgraceful  condition  of  a  dismissal 
at  the  will  of  an  officer  a  grade  or  two  above  him.  This 
conduct  of  General  Brown's  passed  without  censure, 
and  was  alluded  to  with  approbation,  in  a  letter  from  the 
secretary  of  state  to  Admiral  Cochran. 

On  the  20th,  General  Brown  advanced  with  his  army 
towards  Fort  George,  drove  in  the  outposts,  and  encamped 
near  the  Fort,  in  the  expectation  that  the  British  would 
come  out  and  give  him  battle.  On  the  22d,  he  returned 
to  his  former  position  at  Queenstown  ;  here  he  received  a 
letter  from  General  Gaines,  informing  him  that  the  heavy 
guns,  and  the  rifle  regiment,  which  he  had  ordered  from 
Sackett's  Harbour,  together  with  the  whole  fleet,  were 
blockaded  in  that  port,  and  no  assistance  was  to  be 
expected  from  them.  On  the  24th,  he  fell  back  to  Chip- 
pewa,  and  on  the  25th,  received  intelligence  that  the 
enemy,  having  received  large  reinforcements  from  King 
ston,  were  advancing  upon  him.  The  first  brigade  under 
General  Scott,  Toxvson's  artillery,  all  the  dragoons  and 
mounted  men,  were  immediately  put  in  motion  on  the 
Queenstown  road. 

On  his  arrival  at  the  Niagara  cataract,  General  Scott 
learned  that  the  British  were  in  force  directly  in  his  front, 
separated  only  by  a  narrow  piece  of  wood.  Having 
despatched  this  intelligence  to  General  Brown,  he  ad- 


WORTH.  225 

vanced  upon  the  enemy,  and  the  action  commenced  at 
six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Although  General  Ripley 
with  the  second  brigade,  Major  Hendman  with  the  corps 
of  artillery,  and  General  Porter  with  the  volunteers, 
pressed  forward  with  ardour,  it  was  an  hour  before  they 
could  be  brought  up  to  his  support ;  during  this  time  his 
brigade  alone  sustained  the  conflict.  General  Scott  had 
pressed  through  the  wood,  and  engaged  the  British  on 
the  Queenstown  road,  with  the  9th,  llth,  and  12th 
regiments,  the  25th  having  been  thrown  on  the  right. 
The  fresh  troops  under  General  Ripley  having  arrived, 
now7  advanced  to  relieve  General  Scott,  whose  exhausted 
brigade  formed  a  reserve  in  the  rear.  The  British  artil 
lery  had  taken  post  on  a  commanding  eminence,  at  the 
head  of  Lundy's  Lane,  supported  by  a  line  of  infantry, 
out  of  the  reach  of  the  American  batteries.  This  was  the 
key  of  the  whole  position ;  from  hence  they  poured  a 
most  deadly  fire  on  the  American  ranks.  It  became 
necessary  either  to  leave  the  ground,  or  to  carry  this  post 
and  seize  the  height.  The  latter  desperate  task  was 
assigned  to  Colonel  Miller. 

On  receiving  the  order  from  General  Brown,  he  calmly 
surveyed  the  position,  and  answered,  "  I  WILL  TRY,  SIR  ;" 
which  expression  was  afterwards  the  motto  of  his  regi 
ment.  The  first  regiment,  under  the  command  of  Colo 
nel  Nicholas,  were  ordered  to  menace  the  British  infan 
try,  and  support  Colonel  Miller  in  (he  attack.  This 
corps,  after  a  discharge  or  two,  gave  way  and  left  him 
without  support.  Without  regarding  this  occurrence, 
Colonel  Miller  advanced  coolly  and  steadily  to  his 
object,  amid  a  tremendous  fire,  and  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet  carried  the  artillery  and  the  height.  The  guns 
were  immediately  turned  upon  the  enemy ;  General 
Ripley  now  brought  up  the  23d  regiment,  to  the  support 


226  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

of  Colonel  Miller;  the  first  regiment  was  rallied  and 
brought  into  line,  and  the  British  were  driven  from  the 
hill.  At  this  time  Major  Jessup,  with  the  25th  regi 
ment,  was  engaged  in  a  most  obstinate  conflict,  with  all 
the  British  that  remained  on  the  field.  He  had  suc 
ceeded  iii  turning  the  British  left  flank.  Captain 
Ketchum,  with  a  detachment  of  this  regiment,  succeeded 
in  gaining  the  rear  of  the  British  lines,  at  the  point 
where  Generals  Drummond  and  Riall,  with  their  suites, 
had  taken  their  stations,  and  made  them  all  prisoners. 
The  British  officers,  mistaking  this  detachment  for  a 
company  of  their  own  men,  were  ordering  them  to  press 
on  to  the  combat,  when  Captain  Ketchum  stepped 
forward  and  coolly  observed,  that  he  had  the  honour  to 
command  at  that  time,  and  immediately  conducted  the 
officers  and  their  suites,  into  the  rear  of  the  American 
lines ;  General  Drummond,  in  the  confusion  of  the 
scene,  made  his  escape. 

The  British  rallied  under  the  hill,  and  made  a  despe 
rate  attempt  to  regain  their  artillery,  and  drive  the  Ameri 
cans  from  their  position,  but  without  success  ;  a  second 
and  third  attempt  were  made  with  the  like  result.  General 
Scott  was  engaged  in  repelling  these  attacks,  and  though 
with  his  shoulder  fractured,  and  a  severe  wound  in  the 
side,  continued  at  the  head  of  his  column,  endeavour 
ing  to  turn  the  enemy's  right  flank.  The  volunteers 
under  General  Porter,  during  the  last  charge  of  the 
British,  precipitated  themselves  upon  their  lines,  broke 
them,  and  took  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  General 
Brown,  during  the  whole  action,  was  at  the  most  ex 
posed  points,  directing  and  animating  his  troops.  He 
received  a  severe  wound  on  the  thigh,  and  in  the  side, 
and  would  have  given  the  command  to  General  Scott, 
but  on  inquiring,  found  that  he  was  severely  wounded, 


WORTH.  227 

He  continued  at  the  head  of  his  troops  until  the  last 
effort  of  the  British  was  repulsed,  when  loss  of  blood 
obliged  him  to  retire  ;  he  then  consigned  the  command 
to  General  Ripley.  At  twelve  o'clock,  both  parties 
retired  from  the  field  to  their  respective  encampments, 
fatigued  and  satiated  with  slaughter.  The  battle  con 
tinued,  with  but  little  intermission,  from  six  in  the  after 
noon  until  twelve  at  night. 

After  Colonel  Miller  had  taken  the  battery,  and  driven 
the  British  from  the  heights,  and  General  Riall  and  suite 
had  been  taken,  there  was  a  short  cessation,  and  the 
enemy  appeared  to  be  about  yielding  the  ground,  when 
reinforcements  arrived  to  their  aid,  and  the  battle  was 
renewed  with  redoubled  fury  for  another  space  of  two 
hours ;  much  of  this  time  the  combatants  were  within  a 
few  yards  of  each  other,  and  several  times,  officers  were 
found  commanding  enemy  platoons.  Captain  Spencer, 
aid  to  General  Brown,  was  despatched  with  orders  to 
one  of  the  regiments ;  when  about  to  deliver  them,  he 
suddenly  found  himself  in  contact  with  a  British  corps ; 
with  great  coolness,  and  a  firm  air,  he  inquired,  What 
regiment  is  this  ?  On  being  answered,  The  Royal  Scots, 
he  immediately  replied,  Royal  Scots,  remain  as  you  are  ! 
The  commandant  of  the  corps,  supposing  the  orders 
came  from  his  commanding  general,  immediately  halted 
his  regiment,  and  Captain  Spencer  rode  off.  Colonel 
Miller's  achievement,  in  storming  the  battery,  was  of  the 
most  brilliant  and  hazardous  nature  ;  it  was  decisive  of 
the  events  of  the  battle,  and  entitled  him  and  his  corps 
to  the  highest  applause ;  most  of  the  officers  engaged  in 
that  enterprise  were  killed  or  wounded.  The  battle  was 
fought  to  the  west  of,  and  within  half  a  mile  of  the 
Niagara  cataract.  The  thunder  of  the  cannon,  the  roar 
ing  of  the  falls,  the  incessant  discharge  of  musketry,  the 


228  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

groans  of  the  dying  and  wounded,  during  the  six  hours 
in  which  the  parties  were  engaged  in  close  combat, 
heightened  by  the  circumstance  of  its  being  in  the  night, 
afforded  such  a  scene,  as  is  rarely  to  be  met  with  in  the 
history  of  human  slaughter.  The  evening  was  calm,  and 
the  moon  shone  with  lustre,  when  not  enveloped  in 
clouds  of  smoke  from  the  firing  of  the  contending  armies. 
Considering  the  numbers  engaged,  few  contests  have 
ever  been  more  sanguinary. 

General  Drummond,  soon  after  the  battle  of  the  5th, 
had  been  concentrating  his  forces,  and  receiving  rein 
forcements  from  Kingston,  for  a  general  attack  on  the 
American  troops,  and  in.  the  battle  of  the  25th,  they  were 
all  engaged,  to  the  amount  of  5000 ;  many  of  them  troops 
selected  from  the  flower  of  the  army  of  Lord  Wellington. 
General  Brown  had  failed  in  receiving  his  expected  rein 
forcements  from  Sackett's  Harbour;  many  of  his  Indians 
had  left  him,  and  most  of  his  troops  were  soldiers  of  less 
than  one  year's  experience.  But  the  general  had  done 
everything  which  his  limited  means  could  accomplish  to 
ensure  success.  With  the  aid  of  General  Porter,  he  had 
assembled  a  considerable  force  of  militia  and  volunteers  ; 
his  whole  army  may  be  estimated  at  about  4000.  With 
the  aid  of  his  officers,  he  had  instructed,  and  infused  into 
them  a  spirit  of  bravery  and  discipline,  which  enabled 
them  to  meet  and  successfully  combat  British  veterans. 
This  was  unquestionably  the  most  severe  and  bloody 
battle  that  was  fought  during  the  war.  One-fifth  of  the 
combatants  on  each  side,  were  put  hors  de  combat.  On 
the  American  side,  the  commanding  general  and  the 
second  in  command  were  severely  wounded.  On  the 
British,  their  commander-in-chief  was  wounded,  and  for 
a  few  minutes  a  prisoner,  and  the  second  in  command 


WORTH. 


229 


severely  wounded  and  captured.  General  Brown  states 

his  loss  to  be, 

Killed,  -  171 

Wounded,  -     572 

Missing,  117 

860 

General  Drummond  acknowledges  a  loss  of, 
Killed,  84 

Wounded,  -     559 

Missing  and  Prisoners,    -  235 

878 

On  the  morning  of  the  26th,  Generals  Ripley  and 
Porter  reconnoitered  the  battle-ground,  and  found  there 
parties  of  the  British  on  the  same  errandX  Neither 
Americans  nor  British  appeared  disposed  to  renew  the 
bloody  scenes  of  the  preceding  night.  In  their  official 
reports,  both  claimed  the  victory.  But  considering  the 
number  and  nature  of  American  troops  compared  with 
the  British,  the  honours  of  the  day  unquestionably 
belong  to  the  former ;  the  latter  were  the  first  to  leave 
the  field.  From  the  reinforcements  which  they  had  re 
cently  received  from  Kingston,  their  army  after  the  bat 
tle  was  evidently  superior  to  the  American  ;  and  the 
latter,  under  the  command  of  General  Ripley,  on  the  26th, 
fell  back  to  Fort  Erie.  General  Brown  retired  to  Buf 
falo,  and  General  Scott  to  Batavia,  to  recover  from  their 
wounds.  Captain  Ambrose  Spencer,  son  of  the  chief 
justice  of  New- York,  and  aid  to  General  Brown,  was 
mortally  wounded  in  the  action,  and  taken  prisoner; 
Captain  Loring,  aid  to  General  Drummond,  was  also 
made  prisoner,  but  not  wounded. 

Soon  after  the  battle,  General  Brown  received  a  pro- 


230  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

position  from  General  Drummond,  for  a  mutual  exchange 
of  their  aids.  For  obvious  reasons,  it  is  not  according 
to  the  usages  of  war  to  offer  or  accept  a  wounded  man 
in  exchange  for  one  who  is  well ;  but  from  motives  of 
affection  for  his  aid,  and  from  respect  to  the  feelings  of 
his  parents,  General  Brown  was  in  this  instance  induced 
to  listen  to  the  proposition,  and  sent  a  flag  to  ascertain 
whether  Captain  Spencer  was  living.  The  flag  was  not 
permitted  to  see  the  prisoner,  or  communicate  with  his 
surgeon.  On  the  return  of  the  flag,  General  Brown  sent 
the  brother  of  Captain  Spencer,  with  a  note  to  General 
Drummond,  introducing  the  brother,  and  requesting  that 
he  might  be  permitted  to  see  and  attend  upon  him,  and 
assuring  the  general  that  Captain  Loring  should  be 
exchanged  for  Captain  Spencer  if  living,  or  for  his 
corpse  if  dead.  The  brother  returned  the  next  day  with  the 
CORPSE,  bearing  a  note  from  General  Drummond,  claim 
ing  the  discharge  of  Captain  Loring ;  which  General 
Brown,  faithful  to  his  engagements,  complied  with. 

Captain  Worth,  like  his  patron  General  Scott,  received 
a  severe  wound  in  this  battle,  which  compelled  him  to 
remain  inactive  during  the  stirring  events  which  fol 
lowed  it.  He  was,  however,  rewarded  for  his  good 
conduct  in  the  action  by  being  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
major. 

After  the  peace  he  was  for  a  considerable  time  super 
intendent  of  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  an 
office  which  would  only  be  confided  to  one  in  whose 
discretion,  judgment,  ability,  and  high  gentlemanly  de 
portment,  the  government  reposed  unlimited  confidence. 

Worth  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel 
by  brevet,  on  the  25th  of  July,  1824,  and  was  appointed 
major  of  ordnance  in  1832.  On  the  7th  of  July,  1838, 


WORTH.  231 

he  was  appointed  colonel  in  the  8th  regiment  of  in 
fantry. 

The  war  in  Florida,  which  furnished  occasion  for  a 
display  of  General  Taylor's  military  skill  and  intrepidity, 
also  presented  a  theatre  on  which  Colonel  Worth  was 
destined  to  figure.  The  service  was  one  of  the  most 
tedious  and  unpleasant  which  could  possibly  be  imposed 
upon  an  ardent  soldier,  desirous  of  winning  distinction  ; 
for  it  consisted  in  hunting  up  the  lurking-places  of  an 
insidious  and  savage  enemy,  and  driving  him  into  action. 
The  Seminoles  had  eluded  pursuit  for  a  long  time  pre 
vious  to  May  1841,  when  the  conduct  of  the  wrar  was 
intrusted  to  Colonel  Worth.  Sickness  among  the  men 
impeded  his  operations,  but  he  was  soon  able  to  compel 
the  surrender  of  several  considerable  detachments  of  hos 
tile  Indians ;  and  on  the  19th  of  April,  1842,  he  succeeded 
in  compelling  a  large  body  of  Indians  to  fight  at  a  place 
called  Palaklaklaha.  The  result,  as  might  have  been 
anticipated,  was  a  complete  defeat  of  the  enemy,  which 
was  soon  after  followed  by  the  surrender  of  one  of  the 
leading  chiefs  of  the  Indians  with  his  band. 

Colonel  Worth  had  already  received  (March  1st, 
1842)  the  appointment  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet. 

After  the  battle  of  Palaklaklaha,  the  Florida  war 
was  speedily  brought  to  a  close,  for  the  time ;  and  Gen 
eral  Worth  was  ordered  to  another  post ;  but,  hostilities 
again  breaking  out,  he  was  again  ordered  to  Florida  ; 
but  his  subsequent  service  there  afforded  him  no  oppor 
tunity  for  distinction. 

^  Previous  to  the  breaking  out  of  open  hostilities  be 
tween  Mexico  and  the  United  States,  General  Worth 
being  attached  to  the  Army  of  Occupation,  deemed  it 
necessary,  upon  some  point  of  military  etiquette,  to  re 
sign  his  commission.  He  thus  unluckily  missed  the 
IS 


232  TAYLOR  AND  HISf  GENERALS, 

battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la  Palrna.  With 
feelings  highly  honourable  to  him  as  a  soldier,  he  in 
stantly  .withdrew  his  resignation  ;  and,  being  restored  to 
the  army,  repaired  with  all  haste  to  General  Taylor's 
camp  at  Matamoras,  to  share  the  honours  and  dangers 
of  the  veteran  commander. 

Of  course  General  Worth  was  extremely  anxious  for 
an  opportunity  of  signalizing  himself  in  the  subsequent 
operations  of  the  army,  and  this  General  Taylor  was 
determined  to  afford  him.  The  opportunity  speedily 
presented  itself  at  Monterey,  where  Worth  was  honoured 
with  a  commission  of  the  greatest  importance,  that  of 
carrying  the  heights  which  commanded  the  place,  and 
which  would  have  proved  completely  impregnable  to  a 
less  resolute  commander. 

On  the  19th  of  September,  General  Taylor  arrived 
before  Monterey  with  about  6000  men.  He  reconnoi- 
tered  the  city  at  about  1500  to  1600  yards  from  the 
Cathedral  front,  during  which  he  was  fired  upon  from, 
the  battery.  His  force  then  encamped  at  the  Walnut 
Springs,  three  miles  short  of  the  city.  This  was  the 
nearest  position  where  the  army  could  obtain  a  supply  of 
water  and  bread,  and,  at  the  same  time,  be  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  enemy's  batteries.  The  remainder  of  the 
19th  was  occupied  by  the  engineers  in  making  reconnois- 
sances  of  the  city  batteries  and  commanding  heights.  On 
the  20th,  General  Worth  was  ordered  with  his  division  to 
move  by  a  circuitous  route  to  the  right,  to  gain  the  Saltillo 
road,  beyond  the  west  of  the  town,  and  to  storm  the  heights 
above  the  Bishop's  Palace,  which  vital  point-the  enemy 
appeared  to  have  strangely  neglected.  Circumstances 
caused  his  halt  on  the  night  of  the  20th,  short  of  the 
intended  position. 

On  Monday,  the  21st,  he  continued  his  route,  and 


WORTH.  233 

after  an  encounter  with  a  large  body  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry  and  infantry,  supported  by  artillery  from  the 
heights,  he  repulsed  them  with  loss,  and  finally  encamped, 
covering  the  passage  of  the  Saltillo  road.  It  was  here  dis 
covered  that,  beside  the  fort  at  the  Bishop's  Palace,  and 
the  occupation  of  the  heights  above,  two  forts  on  com 
manding  eminences  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  San  Juan 
had  been  fortified  and  occupied.  These  t\vo  latter 
heights  were  then  stormed  and  carried — the  guns  of  the 
last  fort  carried  being  immediately  turned  with  a  plunging 
fire  upon  the  Bishop's  Palace. 

On  the  same  morning,  the  21st,  the  1st  division  of 
regular  troops,  under  General  Twiggs,  and  the  volun 
teer  division,  under  General  Butler,  were  ordered  under 
arms,  to  make  a  diversion  to  the  left  of  the  town,  in 
favour  of  the  important  operations  of  General  Worth. 
The  twenty-inch  mortars  and  two  twenty-four  pound 
howitzers,  had  been  put  in  battery  the  night  of  the  20th, 
in  a  ravine  of  1400  yards  distant  from  the  Cathedral 
fort  or  citadel,  and  were  supported  by  the  4th  regiment 
of  infantry. 

At  half-past  eight  o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  the  21st,  the 
order  was  given  for  this  battery  to  open  upon  the  cita 
del  and  town ;  and  immediately  after,  the  1st  division, 
with  the  3d  and  4th  infantry  in  advance,  under  Colonel 
Garland,  were  ordered  to  reconnoitre  and  skirmish 
with  the  enemy,  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  city,  and, 
should  prospect  of  success  offer,  to  carry  the  most  ad 
vanced  battery.  This  attack  was  directed  by  Major 
Mansfield,  Engineer,  and  Major  Kinney,  quartermaster 
to  the  Texas  division.  A  heavy  fire  from  the  first  bat 
tery  was  then  opened  upon  the  advance,  but  the  troops 
soon  turned.  At  entering  and  engaging  with  the  enemy, 
in  the  streets  of  the  city,  having  passed  through  an 


234          TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

incessant  cross  fire  from  the  citadel  and  the  first  and 
second  batteries,  and  from  the  infantry,  who  lined  the 
parapets,  streets,  and  house-tops  of  the  city,  the  rear  of 
the  first  battery  was  soon  turned,  and  the  reverse  fire  of 
the  troops  through  the  gorge  works,  and  killed  or  dis 
lodged  the  artillery  and  infantry  from  it,  and  the  build 
ings  occupied  by  infantry  immediately  in  its  rear.  The 
1st  division  was  followed  and  supported  by  the  Missis 
sippi,  and  Tennessee,  and  first  Ohio  regiments  ;  the  two 
former  regiments  being  the  first  to  scale  and  occupy  the 
fort.  The  success  of  the  day  here  stopped.  The  Mis 
sissippi,  Tennessee,  and  Ohio  regiments,  though  warmly 
engaged  in  the  streets  for  some  time  after  the  capture  of 
the  first  battery,  and  in  its  adjoining  defences,  were 
unable,  from  exhaustion  and  the  loss  they  had  suffered, 
to  gain  more  advantage. 

A  heavy  shower  of  rain  also  came  up,  and  caused  a 
suspension  of  hostilities  before  the  close  of  the  day.  The 
3d,  4th,  and  1st  infantry,  and  Baltimore  battalion,  re 
mained  as  the  garrison  of  the  captured  position,  under 
Colonel  Garland,  assisted  by  Captain  Ridgely's  battery. 
Two  twelve-pounders,  one  four-pounder,  and  one  how 
itzer  were  captured  in  this  fort. 

Three  officers  and  some  twenty  or  thirty  men  were 
taken  prisoners.  One  of  the  twelve-pounders  was  served 
against  the  second  fort  and  defences,  with  captured  am 
munition,  by  Captain  Ridgely.  The  storming  party  of 
General  Worth's  division  also  captured  two  nine-pound 
ers,  which  were  also  immediately  turned  against  their 
former  owners. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d,  General  Worth  continued 
his  operations,  and  portions  of  his  division  stormed  and 
carried  successively  the  heights  above  the  Bishop's 
Palace.  Both  were  carried  by  a  command  under  Cap- 


WORTH.  235 

tain  Vinton,  of  the  3d  artillery.  In  these  operations,  the 
company  of  Louisiana  troops,  under  Captain  Blanchard, 
performed  efficient  and  gallant  service  as  part  of  Captain 
Vinton's  command. 

Four  pieces  of  artillery,  with  a  good  supply  of  ammu 
nition,  were  captured  in  the  Bishop's  Palace,  some  of 
which  were  immediately  turned  upon  the  enemy's  de 
fences  in  the  city. 

On  the  evening  of  the  22d,  Colonel  Garland  and  his 
command  were  relieved  as  the  garrison  of  the  captured 
forts,  by  General  Quitman,  with  the  Mississippi  and 
Tennessee  regiments,  with  five  companies  of  the  Kentucky 
boys. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  23d,  General  Quitman, 
from  his  position,  discovered  that  the  second  and  third 
forts  and  defences  east  of  the  city  had  been  entirely 
abandoned  by  the  enemy,  who,  apprehending  another 
assault,  on  the  night  of  the  22d,  had  retired  from  his 
defences  to  the  main  palace  and  its  immediate  vicinity. 
A  command  of  two  companies  of  Mississippi  and  two  of 
Tennessee  troops  were  thrown  into  the  street  to  recon 
noitre,  and  soon  became  hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy. 

They  were  soon  supported  by  Colonel  Wood's  regi 
ment  and  the  Texas  regiment  dismounted  ;  by  Bragg's 
light  battery  and  the  third  infantry.  The  enemy's  fire 
was  constant  and  uninterrupted  from  streets  and  house 
tops,  barricades,  &c.,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Plaza.  The 
pieces  of  Bragg's  artillery  were  also  used  with  much  effi 
ciency  from  the  heart  of  the  city.  This  engagement  lasted 
the  best  part  of  the  day ;  our  troops  having  driven  the 
scattered  parties  of  the  enemy,  and  penetrated  quite  to  the 
defences  of  the  main  Plaza.  The  advantage  thus  gained 
it  was  not  considered  necessary  to  hold,  as  the  enemy  had 
permanently  abandoned  the  city  and  its  defences,  except 


236          TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

the  main  Plaza,  its  immediate  vicinity,  and  the  cathedral 
fort  or  citadel,  early  in  the  afternoon. 

General  Worth  assailed  from  the  Bishop's  Palace  the 
west  side  of  the  city,  and  succeeded  in  driving  the  enemy 
and  maintaining  his  position  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  main  Plaza.  On  that  side  of  the  city,  towards 
evening,  the  mortar  had  also  been  planted  in  the  ceme 
tery  enclosed,  and  during  the  fight,  it  did  great  execution 
in  the  circumscribed  camp  of  the  enemy  on  the  Plaza. 
Thus  ended  the  operations  of  the  23d. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  a  communication 
was  sent  to  General  Taylor,  from  General  Ampudia, 
under  a  flag  of  truce,  making  an  offer  of  capitulation — 
to  which  the  former  refused  to  accede,  as  it  asked  more 
than  the  American  commander  would,  under  any  circum 
stances,  grant.  [General  A.  wished  to  stipulate  that 
he  should  march  out  with  all  his  men,  arms,  ammuni 
tion,  &c.]  At  the  same  time,  a  demand  to  surrender 
was,  in  reply,  made  upon  General  Ampudia.  Twelve, 
o'clock,  M.,  was  the  time  at  which  the  acceptance  or 
non-acceptance  was  to  be  communicated  to  the  Ameri 
can  general.  At  eleven  A.  Mv  the  Mexican  commander 
sent  a  note  requesting  a  personal  conference  with  Gen 
eral  Taylor,  which  was  granted, — the  principal  officers 
of  rank  on  either  side  accompanying  the  generals. 

After  several  offers  in  relation  to  the  capitulation  of 
the  city^  made  on  either  side  and  refused,  at  half-past 
four  P.  M.,  General  Taylor  rose,  and  saying  he  would 
give  General  Ampudia  one  hour  to  consider,  and  accept 
or  refuse,  left  the  conference  with  his  officers — at  the 
expiration  of  the  hour,  the  discharge  from  the  mortars 
to  be  the  signal  for  the  recommencement  of  hostilities. 

Before  the  expiration  of  the  hour,  however,  an  officer 
was  sent  on  the  part  of  General  Ampudia,  to  inform  the 


WORTH.  237 

sion  of  blood,  and  the  national  honour  being  satisfied  by 
the  exertions  of  the  Mexican  troops,  he  had,  after  con 
sultation  with  his  general  officers,  decided  to  capitulate, 
accepting  the  offer  of  the  American  general. 

The  terms  of  capitulation  were  in  effect  as  follows : 
That  the  officers  should  be  allowed  to  march  out  with 
their  side  arms  ;  that  the  cavalry  and  infantry  should  be 
allowed  to  inarch  out  with  their  arms  and  accoutrements ; 
that  the  artillery  should  be  allowed  to  march  out  with 
one  battery  of  six  pieces  and  twenty-one  rounds  of  am 
munition  ;  that  all  other  munitions  of  war  and  supplies 
should  be  turned  over  to  a  board  of  American  officers 
appointed  to  receive  them ;  that  the  Mexican  army  should 
be  allowed  seven  days  to  evacuate  the  city,  and  that  the 
American  troops  should  not  occupy  it  until  evacuated  ; 
that  the  cathedral  fort  or  citadel  should  be  evacuated  at 
ten  A.  M.  next  day,  the  25th.  The  Mexicans  were  then 
to  march  out,  and  the  American  garrison  to  march  in. 
The  Mexicans  were  allowed  to  salute  their  flag  when 
hauled  down ;  that  there  should  be  an  armistice  of  eight 
weeks,  during  which  time  neither  army  should  pass  a 
line  running  from  the  Rinconada  through,  Linares  and 
San  Fernando. 

The  only  Baltimorean  or  Philadelphian  in  the  list  of 
killed  or  wounded,  is  Colonel  W.  W.  H.  Watson,  of 
Baltimore. 

Ampudia  reported  his  force  as  7000.  It  is  estimated 
at  11,000.  The  forts  that  wrere  taken  were  occupied  by 
Ridgely's  artillery,  who  turned  the  captured  pieces 
against  the  Mexican  forces,  and  the  firing  was  kept  up 
during  the  day. 

During  the  whole  of  this  severe  siege,  General  Worth 
displayed  the  most  perfect  coolness  and  intrepidity.  His 
services  were  properly  appreciated  by  the  government  ; 
for  on  the  3d  of  March,  1.847,  he  was  raised  to  the 


238  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

rank  of  major-general  by  brevet,  his  commission  being 
dated  from  the  storming  of  Monterey. 

In  our  notice  of  the  life  of  General  Taylor,  we  have 
already  informed  the  reader,  that  after  the  capture  of 
Monterey,  General  Worth  was  stationed  at  Saltillo, 
where  he  remained  until  the  middle  of  January,  when  he 
received  orders  to  march  with  the  main  body  of  the 
regular  forces  and  volunteers,  which  had  been  under  his 
own  and  General  Taylor's  command,  in  order  to  join  the 
expedition  of  General  Scott,  intended  for  the^  capture  of 
Vera  Cruz. 

A  full  and  accurate  history  of  the  operations  of  the 
army  and  fleet,  in  the  siege  of  Yera  Cruz,  will  be  given 
in  our  notice  of  General  Scott,  the  commander-in-chief 
of  the  American  armies  in  Mexico.  General  Worth  bore 
a  conspicuous  part  in  the  siege,  and  was  present  at  the 
grand  ceremony  of  the  surrender. 

The  29th  wras  fixed  upon  as  the  day  upon  which  our 
army  should  take  possession  ;  and  on  the  morning  of  that 
day,  General  Scott,  with  General  Worth  and  his  divi 
sion,  accompanied  by  the  chief  officers  of  the  army  and 
a  large  representation  from  the  squadron,  entered  and 
took  possession,  the  enemy  at  the  same  time  marching 
out.  As  the  American  flag  was  hoisted  at  the  Plaza, 
and  over  San  Juan  de  Ulloa,  salutes  wrere  fired  simulta 
neously  from  the  castle,  the  batteries  of  the  city,  and  the 
squadron.  General  Scott  immediately  took  up  his  quar 
ters  in  the  Palace,  and  invested  General  Worth  with  the 
command  of  the  city,  assigning  at  the  same  time  the 
command  of  the  castle  to  Colpnel  Bolton ;  that  of  Fort 
Jago,  at  the  southern  extremity  of  the  city,  to  Major 
Scott. 

For  the  present,  we  take  our  leave  of  General  Worth, 
occupying  the  very  responsible  and  important  office  of 
GOVERNOR  OF  VERA  CRUZ. 


WOOL 


WOOL. 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JOHN  E.  WOOL,  who  has  dis 
tinguished  himself  so  remarkably  during  the  present 
war  with  Mexico,  is  a  native  of  the  state  of  New  York, 
and  entered  the  army  as  captain  of  the  13th  regiment 
of  infantry,  on  the  14th  of  April,  1812.  Like  the  other 
veterans  of  our  army,  who  were  in  the  service  during 
the  war  of  1812,  Wool  was  actively  engaged  in  the 
campaigns  of  that  and  the  following  year,  during  which 
time  his  bravery  and  good  conduct  merited  and  received 
promotion  to  the  office  of  major. 

It  was  not,  however,  till  the  glorious  campaign  of 
1814,  that  Wool  found  an  opportunity  of  signalizing 
his  courage,  coolness,  and  ability,  in  a  separate  com 
mand  of  first-rate  importance.  This  opportunity  was 
afforded  in  the  battle  of  Plattsburg.  The  best  account 
of  this  affair  is  contained  in  the  following  official  des 
patch  of  General  Macomb,  in  which  Major  Wool's 
important  services  are  recorded  and  commended  as  they 
deserve. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Brigadier-General  Macomb  to  the  Secretary 
of  War,  dated  Head -Quarters,  Plattsburg,  September  15,  1814. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honour  to  communicate,  for  the  in 
formation  of  the  war  department,  the  particulars  of  the 
advance  of  the  enemy  into  the  territory  of  the  United 
States,  the  circumstances  attending  the  siege  of  Platts 
burg,  and  the  defence  of  the  posts  intrusted  to  my 
charge. 


242  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

The  governor-general  of  the  Canadas,  Sir  George 
Prevost,  having  collected  all  the  disposable  force  in 
Lower  Canada,  with  a  view  of  conquering  the  country 
as  far  as  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  entered  the  ter 
ritories  of  the  United  States  on  the  1st  of  the  month, 
and  occupied  the  village  of  Champlain ;  there  avowed 
his  intentions,  and  issued  orders  and  proclamations 
tending  to  dissuade  the  people  from  their  allegiance, 
and  inviting  them  to  furnish  his  army  with  provisions. 
He  immediately  began  to  impress  the  wagons  and  teams 
in  the  vicinity,  and  loaded  them  with  his  heavy  baggage 
and  stores.  From  this  I  was  persuaded  he  intended 
to  attack  this  place.  I  had  but  just  returned  from 
the  lines,  where  I  had  commanded  a  fine  -brigade, 
which  was  broken  up  to  form  the  division  under  Major- 
General  Izard,  ordered  to  the  westward.  Being  senior 
officer,  he  left  me  in  command ;  and  except  the  four  com 
panies  of  the  6th  regiment,  I  had  not  an  organized  bat 
talion  among  those  remaining.  The  garrison  was 
composed  of  convalescents  and  recruits  of  the  new 
regiments — all  in  the  greatest  confusion,  as  well  as  the 
ordnance  and  stores,  and  the  works  in  no  state  of  de 
fence. 

To  create  an  emulation  and  zeal  among  the  officers 
and  men  in  completing  <the  works,  I  divided  them  into 
detachments,  and  placed  them  near  the  several  forts  ; 
declaring  in  orders,  that  each  detachment  was  the  gar 
rison  of  its  own  work,  and  bound  to  defend  it  to  the 
last  extremity. 

The  enemy  advanced  cautiously  and  by  short  marches, 
and  our  soldiers  worked  day  and  night ;  so  that  by  the 
time  he  made  his  appearance  before  the  place,  we  were 
prepared  to  receive  him. 

General  Izard  named  the  principal  work  Fort  Moreau, 


WOOL.  243 

and,  to  remind  the  troops  of  the  actions  of  their  brave 
countrymen,  I  called  the  redoubt  on  the  right  Fort 
Brown ;  and  that  on  the  left  Fort  Scott.  Besides  these 
three  works  we  have  two  block-houses  strongly  fortified. 

Finding,  on  examining  the  returns  of  the  garrison, 
that  our  force  did  not  exceed  1500  effective  men  for 
duty,  and  well  informed  that  the  enemy  had  as  many 
thousands,  I  called  on  General  Mooers,  of  the  New 
York  militia,  and  arranged  with  him  plans  for  bringing 
forth  the  militia,  en  masse.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
village  fled  with  their  families  and  effects,  except  a  few 
worthy  citizens  and  some  boys,  who  formed  themselves 
into  a  party,  received  rifles,  and  were  exceedingly  useful. 
By  the  fourth  of  the  month  General  Mooers  collected 
about  700  militia,  and  advanced  seven  miles  on  the  Beck- 
mantown  road,  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy,  and  to 
skirmish  with  him  as  he  advanced :  also  to  obstruct  the 
roads  with  fallen  trees,  and  to  break  up  the  bridges. 

On  the  lake  road  to  Dead  Creek  bridge,  I  posted  200 
men  under  Captain  Sproul  of  the  13th  regiment,  with 
orders  to  abattis  the  woods,  to  place  obstructions  in  the 
road,  and.  to  fortify  himself;  to  this  party  I  added  two 
field-pieces.  In  advance  of  this  position  was  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Appling  with  110  riflemen,  watching  the 
movements  of  the  enemy,  and  procuring  intelligence. 
It  was  ascertained,  that  before  daylight  on  the  6th,  the 
enemy  wrould  advance  in  two  columns  on  the  two  roads 
before-mentioned,  dividing  at  Sampson's,  a  little  below 
Chazy  village.  The  column  on  the  Beckmantown  road 
proceeded  most  rapidly;  the  militia  skirmished  with  his 
advanced  parties,  and,  except  a  few  brave  men,  fell  back 
most  precipitately  in  the  greatest  disorder,  notwithstand 
ing  the  British  troops  did  not  deign  to  fire  on  them, 
except  by  their  flankers  and  advanced  patroles.  The 


244          TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

night  previous  I  ordered  Major  Wool  to  advance  with  a 
detachment  of  250  men  to  support  the  militia,  and  set 
them  an  example  of  firmness.  Also  Captain  Leonard 
of  the  light  artillery  was  directed  to  proceed  with  two 
pieces  to  be  on  the  ground  before  day,  yet  he  did  not 
make  his  appearance  until  eight  o'clock,  when  the  enemy 
had  approached  within  two  miles  of  the  village.  With 
his  conduct,  therefore,  I  am  not  well  pleased.  Major 
Wool,  with  his  party,  disputed  the  road  with  great  ob 
stinacy,  but  the  militia  could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to 
stand,  notwithstanding  the  exertions  of  their  general 
and  staff  officers  ;  although  the  fields  were  divided  by 
strong  stone  walls,  and  they  were  told  that  the  enemy 
could  not  possibly  cut  them  off.  The  state  dragoons  of 
New  York  wear  red  coats,  and  they  being  on  the  heights 
to  watch  the  enemy,  gave  constant  alarm  to  the  militia, 
who  mistook  them  for  the  enemy,  and  feared  his  getting 
in  their  rear.  Finding  the  enemy's  columns  had  pene 
trated  within  a  mile  of  Plattsburg,  I  despatched  my  aid- 
de-camp,  Lieutenant  Root,  to  bring  off  the  detachment 
at  Dead  Creek,  and  to  inform  Lieutenant  Appling  that  I 
wished  him  to  fall  on  the  enemy's  right  flank.  The  colo 
nel  fortunately  arrived  just  in  time  to  save  his  retreat, 
and  to  fall  in  with  the  head  of  a  column  debouching 
from  the  woods.  Here  he  poured  in  a  destructive  fire 
from  his  riflemen  at  rest,  and  continued  to  annoy  the 
column  until  he  formed  a  junction  with  Major  Wool. 
The  field-pieces  did  considerable  execution  among  the 
enemy's  columns.  So  undaunted,  however,  was  the 
enemy,  that  he  never  deployed  in  his  whole  march, 
always  pressing  on  in  column.  Finding  that  every  road 
was  full  of  troops  crowding  on  us  on  all  sides,  I  ordered 
the  field-pieces  to  retire  across  the  bridge  and  form  a 
battery  for  its  protection,  and  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the 


WOOL.  245 

uifanlry,  which  was  accordingly  done,  and  the  parties  of 
Appling  and  Wool,  as  well  as  that  of  Sproul,  retired 
alternately,  keeping  up  a  brisk  fire  until  they  got  under 
cover  of  the  works.  The  enemy's  light  troops  occupied 
the  houses  near  the  bridge,  and  kept  up  a  constant  firing 
from  the  windows  and  balconies,  and  annoyed  us  much. 
I  ordered  them  to  be  driven  out  with  hot  shot,  which 
soon  put  the  houses  in  flames,  and  obliged  these  sharp 
shooters  to  retire.  The  whole  day,  until  it  was  too  late 
to  see,  the  enemy's  light  troops  endeavoured  to  drive 
our  guards  from  the  bridge,  but  they  suffered  dearly  for 
their  perseverance.  An  attempt  was  also  made  to  cross 
the  upper  bridge,  where  the  militia  handsomely  drove 
them  back. 

The  column  which  marched  by  the  lake  road  was 
much  impeded  by  the  obstructions,  and  the  removal  of 
the  bridge  at  Dead  Creek,  and,  as  it  passed  the  creek 
and  beach,  the  galleys  kept  up  a  lively  and  galling  fire. 

Our  troops  being  now  on  the  south  side  of  the  Sara- 
nac,  I  directed  the  planks  to  be  taken  off  the  bridges 
and  piled  up  in  the  form  of  breast-works  to  cover  our 
parties  intended  for  disputing  the  passage,  which  a%r- 
wards  enabled  us  to  hold  the  bridges  against  very  supe 
rior  numbers. 

From  the  7th  to  the  llth,  the  enemy  was  employed 
in  getting  on  his  battering  train,  and  erecting  his  batte 
ries  and  approaches,  and  constantly  skirmishing  at  the 
bridges  and  fords.  By  this  time  the  militia  of  New 
York,  and  the  volunteers  of  Vermont  were  pouring  in 
from  all  quarters.  I  advised  General  Mooers  to  keep 
his  force  along  the  Saranac  to  prevent  the  enemy's  cross 
ing  the  river,  and  to  send  a  strong  body  in  his  rear  to 
harass  him  day  and  night,  and  keep  him  in  continual 
alarm. 


246  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

The  militia  behaved  with  great  spirit  after  the  first 
day,  and  the  volunteers  of  Vermont  were  exceedingly 
serviceable.  Our  regular  troops,  notwithstanding  the 
skirmishing  and  repeated  endeavours  of  the  enemy  to 
cross  the  river,  kept  at  their  work  day  and  night, 
strengthening  the  defences,  and  evinced  a  determination 
to  hold  out  to  the  last  extremity. 

It  was  reported  that  the  enemy  only  waited  the  arri 
val  of  his  flotilla  to  make  a  general  attack.  About  eight 
in  the  evening  of  the  llth,  as  was  expected,  the  flotilla 
appeared  in  sight  round  Cumberland  Head,  and  at  nine 
bore  down  and  engaged  our  flotilla  at  anchor  in  the  bay 
off  the  town.  At  the  same  instant  the  batteries  were 
opened  on  us,  and  continued  throwing  bomb-shells, 
shrapnels,  balls,  and  congreve.  rockets  until  sunset, 
when  the  bombardment  ceased,  every  battery  of  the 
enemy  being  silenced  by  the  superiority  of  our  fire. 
The  naval  engagement  lasted  but  two  hours,  in  full  view 
of  both  armies.  Three  efforts  were  made  by  the  enemy 
to  pass  the  river  at  the  commencement  of  the  cannonade 
and  bombardment,  with  a  view  of  assaulting  the  works, 
and  he  had  prepared  for  that  purpose  an  immense  number 
of  scaling-ladders.  One  attempt  to  cross  was  made  at 
the  village  bridge,  and  another  at  the  upper  bridge,  and 
a  third  at  a  ford  about  three  miles  from  the  works.  At 
the  two  first  he  was  repulsed  by  the  regulars,  at  the  ford 
by  the  brave  volunteers  and  militia,  where  he  suffered 
severely  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  prisoners ;  a  con 
siderable  body  having  crossed  the  stream,  but  were 
either  killed,  taken,  or  driven  back.  The  woods  at  this 
place  were  very  favourable  to  the  operations  of  the 
militia.  A  whole  company  of  the  76th  regiment  was 
here  destroyed,  the  three  lieutenants  and  twenty-seven 
men  taken  prisoners,  the  captain  and  the  rest  killed. 


WOOL.  247 

I  cannot  forego  the  pleasure  of  here  stating  the  gal 
lant  conduct  of  Captain  M'Glassin,  of  the  15th  regi 
ment,  who  was  ordered  to  ford  the  river,  and  attack  a 
party  constructing  a  battery  on  the  right  of  the  enemy's 
line,  within  500  yards  of  Fort  Brown,  which  he  hand 
somely  executed  at  midnight,  with  fifty  men ;  drove  off 
the  working-party,  consisting  of  150,  and  defeated  a 
covering  party  of  the  same  number,  killing  one  officer 
and  six  men  in  the  charge,  and  wrounding  many. 

At  dusk  the  enemy  withdrew  his  artillery  from  the 
batteries,  and  raised  the  siege,  and  at  nine,  under  cover 
of  the  night,  sent  off  in  a  great  hurry  all  the  baggage  he 
could  find  transport  for,  and  all  his  artillery.  At  two 
the  next  morning  the  whole  army  precipitately  retreated, 
leaving  the  sick  and  wounded  to  our  generosity,  and  the 
governor  left  a  note  with  a  surgeon,  requesting  the 
humane  attention  of  the  commanding  general. 

Vast  quantities  of  provisions  were  left  behind  and 
destroyed,  also  an  immense  quantity  of  bomb-shells, 
cannon-balls,  grape-shot,  ammunition,  flints,  &c.,  &c., 
intrenching  tools  of  all  sorts,  also  tents  and  marquees. 
A  great  deal  has  been  concealed  in  the  ponds  and 
creeks,  and  buried  in  the  ground,  and  a  vast  quantity 
carried  off  by  the  inhabitants.  Such  was  the  precipitance 
of  his  retreat,  that  he  arrived  at  Chazy,  a  distance  of 
eight  miles,  before  we  discovered  he  had  gone.  The 
light  troops,  volunteers,  and  militia  pursued  immediately 
on  learning  of  his  flight;  and  some  of  the  mounted 
men  made  prisoners  five  dragoons  of  the  19th  regiment, 
and  several  others  of  the  rear-guard.  A  continual  fall 
of  rain  and  a  violent  storm  prevented  further  pursuit. 
Upwards  of  300  deserters  have  come  in,  and  many 
are  hourly  arriving. 

We  have  buried  the  British  officers  of  the  army  and 
16 


248  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

navy  with  the  honours  of  war,  and  shown  every  atten 
tion  and  kindness  to  those  who  have  fallen  into  our 
hands. 

The  conduct  of  the  officers,  non-commissioned  officers, 
and  soldiers  of  my  command,  during  this  trying  occa 
sion,  cannot  be  represented  in  too  high  terms,  and  I  feel 
it  my  duty  to  recommend  to  the  particular  notice  of 
government,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Appling  of  the  1st  rifle 
corps :  Major  Wool,  of  the  29th  ;  Major  Totten,  of  the 
corps  of  engineers ;  Captain  Brooks,  of  the  artillery ; 
Captain,  M'Glassin,  of  the  15th ;  Lieutenants  de  Russy 
and  Trescott,  of  the  corps  of  engineers ;  Lieutenants 
Smyth,  Mountford,  and  Cromwell,  of  the  artillery  ;  also 
my  aid-de-camp,  Lieutenant  Root,  who  have  all  dis 
tinguished  themselves  by  their  uncommon  zeal  and  ac 
tivity,  and  have  been  greatly  instrumental  in  producing 
the  happy  and  glorious  result  of  the  siege. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  sentiments  of  profound 
respect,  sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

ALEX.   MACOMB. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed,  wounded,  prisoners, 
and  deserters,  since  his  first  appearance,  cannot  fall 
short  of  2500,  including  many  officers,  among  whom 
is  Colonel  Wellington  of  the  Buffs. 

Major  Wool's  services  on  this  important  occasion 
were  rewarded  by  promotion  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant- 
colonel  by  brevet,  the  department  of  war  taking  care  to 
specify  that  it  was  for  his  gallant  conduct  at  the  battle 
of  Plattsburg. 

During  the  long  peace  which  followed,  Colonel  Wool 
was  employed  at  the  different  posts  of  the  regular  army, 
where  his  presence  was  required  by  the  exigencies  of  the 
service.  On  the  27th  of  April,  1816,  he  was  created 


WOOL.  »249 

inspector-general,  with  the  full  rank  of  colonel ;  and  ten 
years  after,  April  29th,  1826,  he  received  the  appoint 
ment  of  brigadier-general,  his  brevet.  His  commission 
as  brigadier-general,  dates  June  29th,  1841. 

When  the  Mexican  war  had  been  so  gloriously  com 
menced  on  the  Rio  Grande,  a  force  was  directed  to  be 
organized  by  General  Wool,  to  be  styled  the  Central 
Division  of  the  Army  of  Mexico.  Its  operations  have 
been  but  little  noticed  among  the  other  interesting  de 
tails  of  the  war,  because  the  march  of  this  portion  of 
the  troops  was  through  an  unfrequented  part  of  the 
country  ;  and  also  because  this  division  became  merged 
in  the  main  body  under  General  Taylor,  during  the 
period  which  elapsed  between  the  capture  of  Monterey 
and  the  famous  battle  of  Buena  Yista.  Of  this  latter 
battle  we  have  already  given  an  extended  account,  and 
we  now  propose  to  give  the  reader  a  transcript  in  full 
of  a  letter  addressed  to  the  accomplished  editor  of  the 
New  York  Spirit  of  the  Times,  in  which  a  full  account 
is  given  of  the  organization  of  this  division  of  the  army. 
The  reader  will  pardon  us  for  inserting  the  long  lists  of 
names,  when  he  comes  to  compare  them  with  General 
Taylor's  detailed  report  of  the  battle  of  Buena  Yista, 
where  they  are  nearly  all  noticed  with  strong  commen 
dation.  No  other  course  could  show  the  reader  so 
clearly,  how  large  a  share  of  the  glories  of  Buena  Vista 
is  to  be  ascribed  to  General  Wool  and  his  command. 

The  letter  >s  as  follows : 

SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEJAR,          i 
Tejas,  Oct.  14,  1846.  j 

MY  DEA"R  MR.  PORTER, — You  see  by  the  orthography 
of  the  above,  that  1  am  progressing  according  to  the 
rules  of  the  Academy.  I  shall,  no  doubt,  soon  learn  to 


250  ,  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

talk  Spanish,  and  if  I  escape  being  obliged  to  walk  it,  I 
shall  do  well.  The  left  wing  of  General  Wool's  divi 
sion  leaves  San  Antonio  for  the  Presidio  del  Rio  Grande, 
to-day.  In  the  hurry  and  "  thousand  things  to  think 
of,"  incident  to  the  morning  of  marching,  I  can  only 
catch  a  moment  here  and  there,  which  I  can  employ  for 
your  particular  benefit. 

Our  army — that  is,  "  The  Central  Division,  Army 
of  Mexico,"  nobody  seems  to  know  anything  about. 
The  newspapers  have  nothing  in  them  in  relation  to  it, 
and  for  that  reason  I  have  "  taken  my  pen  in  hand," 
with  a  determination  that  our  whereabouts  shall  be 
known,  whether  or  not.  What  I  write  will  not  smell 
much  of  the  camp,  or  make  pretensions  to  particular 
smoothness  of  style,  or  harmony  of  diction ;  but  when 
you  come  down  to  the  bare  facts,  you  will  find  my 
letters  full  of  "  nothing  else."  There  is  no  time  here 
for  poetry. 

It  was  the  last  of  August  before  all  the  various 
detachments  which  had  been  ordered  here  to  compose 
this  division,  arrived.  As  soon  as  they  had  done  so, 
they  were  actively  employed  in  organizing,  drilling, 
maneuvering,  &c.,  preparatory  to  taking  the  field. 
The  stores,  both  of  subsistence  and  ammunition,  came 
in  but  slowly,  as  they  had  to  be  hauled  in  wagons  from 
Port  Laraca,  on  the  Gulf — a  distance  of  150  miles; 
and  sufficient  means  for  transporting  them,  were  not 
supplied  in  season  to  bring  them  all  on  at  once.  It 
was  the  25th  of  September  before  these  stores  had 
accumulated  here,  over  and  above  the  necessary  quan 
tity  for  the  daily  use  of  the  troops,  to  allow  the  general 
to  commence  his  campaign.  By  that  time  a  train  of 
wagons  large  enough  for  the  advance  had  been  collected, 
and  the  26th  was  appointed  as  the  day  on  which  that 


WOOL.  251 

portion  of  the  division  should  move.     It  was  composed 
of  the  following  troops  : — 

i     Colonel  W.  S.  Harney,  2d  dragoons,  in  command. 
*  First   Lieutenant   Daniel  H.  Rucker,  1st   dragoons, 
acting  assistant  adjutant-general. 

Captain  Osborne  Cross,  assistant  quartermaster. 

Dr.  Josiah  Simpson,  assistant  surgeon  U.  S.  A. 

Dr.  William  Levely,  assistant  surgeon  U.  S.  A. 

Captain  Robert  E.  Lee,  U.  S.  corps  of  engineers. 

Captain  William  D.  Fraser,  U.  S.  corps  of  engineers. 

Captain  George  W.  Hughes,  U.  S.  corps  of  topo 
graphical  engineers. 

First  Lieutenant  Lorenzo  Sitgreaves,  U.  S.  corps  of 
topographical  engineers. 

Lieutenant  William  B.  Franklin,  U.  S.  corps  of  to 
pographical  engineers. 

Captain  John  M.  Washington,  4th  artillery. 

First  Lieutenant  John  P.  J.  O'Brien,  4th  artillery. 

First  Lieutenant  Thomas  L.  Brent,  4th  artillery. 

Second  Lieutenant  Henry  M.  Whiting,  4th  artillery. 

Total.  Aggregate. 

These  are  the  officers  of  Washington's 
light  artillery,  (Company  «  B,"  4th 
artillery,)  which  numbered  for  duty, 
and  able  to  march  .  .  95  99 

One  squadron  2d  regiment  U.  S.  dra 
goons,  composed  of  "  A"  and  "  I" 
Companies — able  to  march  .  .118  124 

The  officers  composing  this  squadron  were 
Bvt.  Maj.  Benj.  L.  Beall,  2d  dragoons,  * 
First  Lieut.  John  H.  HiU,  « 

First  Lieut.  Dan.  G.  Rogers,  « 
Sec'd  Lieut.  John  Y.  Bicknell,  « 
Sec'd  Lieut.  Jas.  M.  Hawes,  « 


252  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

«    One  battalion  of  light  infantry,  com 
posed  of  three  companies  of  the  6th 
U.  S.  infantry,  and  one  of  Kentucky 
volunteers— able  to  march       .         .  253       266 
These  are  the  officers  of  that  battalion, 
so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain — 
Major  B.  L.  E.  Bonneville,  6th  U. 

S.  Infantry, 

Captain  William  Hoffman,  " 

Captain  Albemarle  Cady,  " 

Captain  John  Williams,  Kentucky 

volunteers. 

First  Lieutenant  Edw.  H.   Fitz 
gerald,  6th  infantry  A.  C.  S. 
First  Lieutenant  Leonidas  Wetmore, 

6th  Comg.  Com. 

Second  Lieutenant  Edwin  Howe,  6th, 
Second  Lieutenant  William   Read, 

5th  U.  S.  infantry. 
Brevet  Second  Lieutenant  William 

Rhea,  6th  U-.  S.  infantry, 
(Three  subalterns  of  Captain  Williams' 
company   of  Kentucky  volunteers, 
names  not  known.) 

Six   companies    of    Arkansas    mounted 
volunteers.     Their  collective  strength 
of  men  able  to  march,  was      .      .....;  392         421 

Col.  Arch.  Yell,  Arks.  Mtd.  Vol. 
Lieut.  Col.  J.  S.  Roane,     "         " 
First  Lt.  G.  Meares,  Adjt.  " 
Capt.  Albert  Pike,  "         " 

Capt.  John  Preston,  Jr.,     "         " 
Capt.  John  Dillard,  "         " 

Capt.  Danley,  "         " 


WOOL.  253 

Capt.  Porter,  Ark.  Mtd.  vol. 
Capt.  Inglish, 

(Subalterns'  names  not  known.) 
Two    companies  ("A"    and   "I")   1st 
regiment  of  Illinois  volunteers,  com 
manded  by  Captain  Morgan,  of  the 
Quincy  riflemen,   ....       150         156 
Two   companies  ("B"   and«H")   2d 
regiment  of  Illinois  volunteers,  com 
manded  by  Captain  Webb  of  the  2d 
regiment  I.  V.      .  •         .       135         141 

One   company   of   pioneers,   under  the 
direction  of  Capt.  Lee,  and  numbering     30 

Advance— with  66  officers,         .         .     1171       1237 

Two  boats  had  been  constructed  at  this  place  by 
Captain  Fraser,  Engineers,  by  which  the  division  is  to 
cross  the  Rio  Grande.  They  were  taken  apart  and 
transported  thither  in  wagons.  The  general  directed 
that  all  the  men  who  were  unable  to  march  fifteen  miles 
per  day  should  be  left  behind,  to  come  up  with  other 
troops,  should  they  recover  from  sickness,  and  regain 
their  strength. 

This  force  started  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  Sep 
tember.  Every  man  in  fine  spirits,  and  every  company 
in  the  best  possible  fighting  order.  Captain  Washington 
had  a  fine  battery  of  six  brass  pieces — two  twelve-pound 
ers  and  four  six-pounders — and  a  good  supply  of  ammuni 
tion  for  them.  Two  more  brass  six-pounders  are  to  be 
forwarded  from  here.  These  are  to  be  added  to  his 
battery,  and  will  reach  him  at  the  Rio  Grande. 

On  the  morning  of  the  29th  September  General  Wool, 
staff,  and  escort  (one  squadron  of  1st  regiment  U.  S. 


254  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

dragoons)  left  San  Antonio  for  the  Rio  Grande.     The 

officers  were — 

Brigadier-General  John  E.  Wool,  U.  S.  army. 

First  Lieut.  Irvin  McDowell,  1st  artillery,  A.  D.  C. 

Bvt.  Sec.  Lieut.  Francis  T.  Bryan,  Top.  Eng.,  addi 
tional  A.  D.  C. 

Capt.  James  H.  Prentiss,  1st  artillery,  asst.  adj.  gen. 

Capt.  William  W.  Chapman,  asst.  quartermaster. 

First  Lieut.  Marsena  R.  Patrick,  2d  infantry,  A.  C.  S. 

Dr.  Charles  M.  Hitchcock,  asst.  surgeon,  U.  S.  A. 

Major  David  Hunter,  paymaster,  U.  S.  A. 

Sec.  Lieut.  Charles  P.  Kingsbury,  ord.  department. 

Captain  Enoch  Steen,         1st  regiment  U.  S.  dragoons. 

Captain  William  Eustis, 

Sec.  Lieut.  Abram  Buford,  "  " 

Sec.  Lieut.  Joseph  H.  Whittlesey,     "  " 

The  squadron  of  1st  Dragoons  was  composed  of  "  A" 
and  "E"  companies,  and  numbered  131. 
Aggregate  of  all  the  force  which  left  on  the  29th,  144. 
Colonel  Sylvester  Churchill,  inspector-general  U.  S. 

army,  was  left  in  command  of  the  forces  remaining  at 

San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  which  forces  were  to  be  for 
warded  on  to  join  the  general  at  the  Presidio  del  Rio 

Grande,  as  fast  as  means  of  transportation  would  allow. 
On  the  2d  of  October  eight  companies  of  the  1st 

regiment  Illinois  volunteers  took  up  their  line  of  march. 

This  force  was  commanded  by 

Col.  John  J.  Hardin,  1st  regiment  Illinois  volunteers. 

His  field  and  staff  officers  were — 

Lieut-Col.  Weatherford,  "  " 

Major  Warren,  "  "  " 

Captain  Robert  H.  Chilton,  A.  Q.  M.,  U.  S.  army,  ' 
Dr.  Herrick,  assistant  surgeon  (by  the  new  law), 


WOOL,  .  255 

Dr.  Zabriskie,  acting  assistant  surgeon  (by  appoint 
ment). 

First  Lieut.  W.  H.  Wallace,  adjutant  1st  regiment 
Illinois  volunteers. 
The  captains  of  companies  were — 

Captain  Mower,  1st  regiment  Illinois  volunteers. 
Captain  Fry,  "  " 

Captain  Zabriskie,          "  " 

Captain  Richardson,       "  " 

Captain  Crow,  "  " 

Captain  Wyatt,  "  « 

Captain  Montgomery,    "  " 

Captain  Landon,  "  " 

The  total  of  Colonel  Hardin's  command  was  538 — 
36  officers — aggregate,  574. 

This  command  was  also  in  fine  order,  and  not  encum 
bered  by  any  men  unable  to  march  fifteen  miles  per  day. 
The  last  intelligence  received  here  from  General 
Wool  was  dated  at  his  head-quarters  on  the  evening  of 
October  5th.  He  had  overtaken  Colonel  Harney  and 
the  advance,  and  was  then  encamped  25  miles  only 
from  Presidio  del  Rio  Grande.  By  his  table  of  dis 
tances  from  one  watering-place  to  another,  for  the  whole 
route  (and  giving  an  account  of  the  grazing,  &c.,  for 
the  information  of  the  forces  to  succeed  him),  Presidio 
is  estimated  to  be  157  miles  from  San  Antonio.  The 
water  abounded  in  sufficient  quantities,  and  at  intervals 
short  enough  to  prevent  the  necessity  of  transporting 
it,  except  for  a  part  of  one  day's  march,  for  the  whole 
way.  The  grazing  is  also  reported  as  being  generally 
good,  except  at  the  Leona  and  Nueces  rivers. 

Since  writing  the  foregoing,  another  express  has 
arrived  from  the  general,  with  communications  dated 
the  llth  instant.  He  had  arrived  at  the  river  on  the 


256  TA.YLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

9th,  and  nearly  the  whole  of  the  advance  had  crossed 
without  opposition,  and  was  already  in  Mexico.  The 
following  order  was  published  to  the  troops  on  the  9th: — 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  CAMP  ON  THE  Rio  GRANDE,  | 
near  Presidio,  9th  October,  1846.      } 

(Orders  No.  89.) 

Soldiers  ! — After  a  long  and  tedious  march,  you  have 
arrived  on  the  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande.  In  the  per 
formance  of  this  service  the  commanding  general  has 
witnessed  with  the  greatest  pleasure  your  patience,  good 
order,  and  perseverance  under  many  deprivations  and 
hardships.  All  have,  done  their  duty,  and  in  a  manner 
that  reflects  the  highest  credit  on  both  officers  and  men. 
From  this  remark  he  would  not  except  his  staff,  who 
have  actively  and  zealously  devoted  themselves  to  the 
service  ;  whilst  Captain  Cross  has  been  eminently  suc 
cessful  in  forwarding  his  long  train  of  supplies,  without 
delay  or  serious  accident. 

To-morrow  you  will  cross  the  Rio  Grande,  and  oc 
cupy  the  territory  of  our  enemies.  We  have  not  come 
to  make  war  upon  the  people  or  peasantry  of  the  coun 
try,  but  to  compel  the  government  of  Mexico  to  render 
justice  to  the  United  States.  The  people,  therefore, 
who  do  not  take  up  arms  against  the  United  States,  and 
remain  quiet  and  peaceful  ait  their  homes,  will  not  be 
molested  or  interfered  with,  either  as  regards  their  per 
sons  or  property ;  and  all  those  who  furnish  supplies 
will  be  treated  kindly,  and  whatever  is  received  from 
them  will  be  liberally  paid  for. 

It  is  expected  of  the  troops  that  they  will  observe  the 
most  rigid  discipline  and  subordination.  All  depreda 
tions  on  the  persons  or  property  of  the  people  of  the 
country  are  strictly  forbidden ;  and  any  soldier  or  fol- 


WOOL. 


257 


lower  of  the  camp  who  may  so  far  forget  his  duty  as 
to  violate  this  injunction,  will  be  severely  punished. 
By  command  of  General  Wool, 

(Signed)     JAMES  H.  PRENTISS,  Asst.  Adj.  Gen. 

A  report  reached  San  Antonio  last  evening,  that  the 
Mexicans  had  assembled  a  force  of  7000  at  Monclova, 
to  arrest  General  Wool's  advance  at  that  place ;  and  it 
is  also  reported  that  Santa  Anna  has  taken  command  of 
his  army  in  person,  and  already  established  his  head 
quarters  at  Saltillo. 

The  rear  of  the  central  division  leaves  here  this  day, 
to  join  the  general.  The  officers  are — 

Colonel  Sylvester  Churchill,  inspector-general  U.  S. 
A.,  commanding. 

First  Lieutenant  J.  Henry  Carlton,  1st  dragoons,  aid- 
de-camp. 

Major  Charles  Thomas,  quartermaster  U.  S.  A. 
Captain  Davis,  A.  Q.  M.  (Under  new  act.) 

Captain  Howard,  A.  C.  S.  «  " 

Dr.  Edward  B.  Price,  surgeon,        "  " 

Dr.  J.  Ham  White,  surgeon,  «  " 

Major  John  B.  Butler,  paymaster,    "  " 

Captain  George  A.  H.  Blake,  2d  dragoons,  command 
ing  detachment  of  artillery  dragoons  and  infantry. 

Brevet  Second  Lieutenant  James  Oaks,  2d  dragoons, 
on  duty  with  Captain  Blake. 

Two  companies  of  Arkansas  mounted  volunteers,  com 
manded  by  Captain  Wm.  G.  Preston  and  Captain  Hunter. 
Colonel  William  H.  Bissell,  commanding  2d  regi 
ment  Illinois  volunteers. 

Lieutenant- Colonel  Morrison,  2d  regt.  Illinois  vol's. 
Major  Trail,  «  " 

Seven  companies  only  of  the  2d  regiment  march  with 


258  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

this  command — two  having  gone  with  Colonel  Harney, 
and  one  (Captain  Hacker's)  left  as  a  guard  to  this  place. 
They  are  commanded  by  the  following  officers : 

Captain  Wheeler,  Captain  Baker, 

Captain  Coffee,  Captain  Armstrong, 

Captain  Lemon,  Captain  Lott. 

Captain  Miller, 

One  company  of  Texas  volunteers,  commanded  by 
Captain  Charles  A.  Seefeld.  (Names  of  subalterns  not 
known.) 

The  whole  of  this  command,  numbers,  aggregate,  724. 

With  the  next  train  of  wagons,  Major  Solon  Bor 
land,  with  the  remaining  two  companies  of  Arkansas 
volunteers,  is  to  come  up.  They  are  commanded  by 
Captain  Moffitt  and  Captain  Patrick,  and  will  number, 
aggregate,  150. 

Then  all  the  forces  of  this  division  will  have  left  for 
the  field,  and  will  number,  all  told,  only  2829. 

The  general  will  probably  establish  a  depot  for  stores 
somewhere  in  the  interior  beyond  Presidio — as  when  the 
rainy  season  commences,  he  no  doubt  desires  to  have 
the  distance  for  immediate  and  frequent  transportation 
as  short  as  possible.  It  is  thought  by  many  here  that 
we  shall  have  a  hard  struggle  before  we  capture  Chi 
huahua.  Let  that  be  as  it  may,  we  will  all  try  to  render 
our  country  a  good  account  of  ourselves. 

I  shall  write  you  again  from  the  Presidio  del  Rio 
Grande.  You  have  in  this  crude  letter  the  different 
corps,  and  the  strength  of  each ;  and  when  they  are 
mentioned  in  future  letters,  you  can  refer  to  this  for 
many  data  which  will  in  them  be  necessarily  suppressed. 

The  northwestern  frontier  of  Texas,  during  our  ad 
vance,  will  be  protected  by  a  military  police,  composed 
of  four  or  five  companies  of  mounted  rangers,  three  of 


WOOL.  259 

"which  have  already  been  mustered  into  the  service  of 
the  United  States  for  twelve  months. 

Our  sick  have  all  been  left  here  in  general  hospital, 
under  the  care  of  Dr.  John  C.  Glen,  assistant  surgeon 
U.  S.  A.;  and  Captain  William  Wall,  3d  artillery,  is  to 
remain  in  command  of  the  post. 

I  am  very  truly  yours,  J.  H.  C. 

The  army  described  in  the  foregoing  letter  advanced 
into  Mexico  under  General  Wool's  command.  On 
arriving  at  Monclova,  General  Wool,  learning  that  there 
was  no  pass  across  the  mountains  to  Chihuahua,  pro 
ceeded  to  Parras,  and  thence  to  Saltillo,  where  his 
division  remained  till  called  upon  to  take  part  in  the 
battle  of  Buena  Vista. 

The  battle  of  Buena  Vista  afforded  a  splendid  oppor 
tunity  for  displaying  the  courage,  coolness,  and  military 
ability  of  General  Wool.  To  him  the  details  of  the 
battle  were  confided  by  General  Taylor,  and  nobly  did 
he  justify  the  confidence  of  his  commander  and  brother 
veteran  in  the  service.  His  zeal,  efficiency,  and  gal 
lantry  were  not  surpassed  by  those  of  any  officer  in  the 
field.  He  led  the  main  body  in  person,  and  wras  every 
where  seen  rallying  and  encouraging  the  volunteers; 
while  his  excellent  judgment  was  conspicuously  dis 
played  in  ordering  the  various  rapid  movements,  which 
were  called  for  by  the  terrible  emergencies  of  those 
trying  hours.  Throughout  the  whole  action  he  was  con 
stantly  employed  in  making  the  various  dispositions  of 
the  forces,  and  encouraging  them  to  the  onset.  The 
only  complaint  made  against  him,  was  that  he  exposed 
himself  too  much.  The  ruse  of  masking  a  battery  of 
artillery,  charged  with  grape,  by  interposing  a  body  of 
infantry  between  them  and  the  advancing  enemy,  until 
they  were  within  point-blank  shot,  and  then  ordering  the 


260  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

repulsed  the  tremendous  masses  of  the  enemy  with  great 
slaughter,  is  ascribed  to  his  prompt  presence  of  mind. 
On  more  than  one  occasion  the  fate  of  that  bloody  day 
was  determined  by  the  skill  and  ability  of  Wool.  Next 
to  General  Taylor,  he  was  the  aegis  of  the  army,  the 
conquering  sword  and  protecting  shield. 

The  anecdote  of  their  meeting  at  the  close  of  the 
action  is  characteristic  of  the  men,  and  the  occasion. 
"  Blucher  and  Wellington  like,"  says  an  eye-witness, 
«  Generals  Taylor  and  Wool  met  after  the  retreat  com 
menced.  General  Wool  rushed  between  the  arms  of  his 
brother  veteran,  and  congratulated  himself  upon  the 
favourable  result  of  the  day's  trial.  General  Taylor 
playfully  retorted :  l  Oh  !  it 's  impossible  to  \vhip  us  when 
we  all  pull  together."  A  happier  comment  on  the 
benefits  of  united  action  was  never  made. 

In  his  official  despatch  General  Taylor  did  not  omit 
to  notice  the  excellent  conduct  of  his  tried  and  gallant 
friend.  He  says,  "  I  may  be  permitted  here,  however, 
to  acknowledge  my  great  obligations  to  General  Wool, 
the  second  in  command,  to  whom  I  feel  particularly  in 
debted  for  his  valuable  services  on  this  occasion." 

This  notice  occurs  in  General  Taylor's  first  despatch, 
where  no  other  similar  one  appears.  In  his  detailed 
report  we  find  the  following  warm  commendation. 

"  To  Brigadier-General  Wool  my  obligations  are 
especially  due.  The  high  state  of  discipline  and  in 
structions  of  several  of  the  volunteer  regiments  was 
attained  under  his  command,  and  to  his  vigilance  and 
arduous  service  before  the  action,  and  his  gallantry  and 
activity  on  the  field,  a  large  share  of  our  success  may 
justly  be  attributed.  During  most  of  the  engagement 
he  was  in  immediate  command  of  the  troops  thrown  back 
on  our  left  flank.  I  beg  leave  to  recomnend  him  to  the 
favourable  notice  of  the  government." 


TWIGGS. 


TWIGGS. 

0 

BRIGADIER- GENERAL  DAVID  E.  TWIGGS  is  a  native  of 
the  state  of  Georgia.  He  entered  the  army  as  captain 
of  the  8th  regiment  of  infantry,  on  the  12th  of  March, 
1812,  served  with  distinction  in  the  war  of  1812,  was 
promoted  to  the  office  of  major  on  the  14th  of  May 5  1825, 
and  was  made  colonel  of  the  2d  regiment  of  dragoons 
on  the  8th  of  June,  1836. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  present  war  with  Mexico, 
Colonel  Twiggs's  regiment  formed  a  part  of  the  Army 
of  Occupation ;  and  through  the  whole  course  of  opera 
tions  he  has  figured  among  the  most  active  and  useful 
officers  in  the  field. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1846,  we  find  Colonel  Twiggs 
detached  by  General  Taylor  for  the  service  of  capturing 
Point  Isabel,  which  was  held  by  General  Garcia  with  a 
force  of  250  men,  composed  of  infantry  and  artillery. 
The  public  buildings  were  set  on  fire  by  the  Mexican 
authorities  at  the  approach  of  the  Americans,  and  the 
soldiers  and  inhabitants,  with  General  Garcia  at  their 
head,  incontinently  took  to  flight,  escaping  just  in  time 
to  avoid  the  swords  of  Colonel  Twiggs's  dragoons,  who, 
however,  arrived  in  the  town  in  season  to  save  a  few  of 
the  burning  houses. 

At  the  battle  of  Palo  Alto,  Colonel  Twiggs  com 
manded  the  whole  of  the  right  wing,  comprising  Mcln- 
tosh's  infantry,  Ringgold's  artillery,  Morris  and  Allen's 
infantry,  Churchill's  artillery,  part  of  the  fourth  brigade 
under  Garland,  and  the  dragoons  of  Kerr  and  May, 
17 


264  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENEEALS. 

How  the  several  parts  of  his  command  distinguished 
themselves  in  this  great  battle  is  already  familiarly 
known  to  the  reader.  His  humanity  to  the  wounded 
after  the  battle  was  as  conspicuous  as  his  courage  and 
coolness  in  action.  At  the  battle^  of  Resaca  de  Ja 
Palma,  Colonel  Twiggs's  services  were  also  recognised 
as  of  great  importance ;  and  to  him  were  intrusted  the 
arrangements  respecting  the  exchange  of  prisoners  after 
the  battle.  He  also  led  the  van  -at  the  capture  of 
Matamoras,  and  on  its  falling  info  the  hands  of  the 
Americans,  he  was  appointed  governor  of  the  town. 
His  summary  manner  of  dealing  with  the  roguish  pre 
fect  of  the  place  is  humorously  noticed  by  Mr.  Thorpe, 
in  his  "  Army  on  the  Rio  Grande." 

Colonel  Twiggs's  services  on  the  8th  and  9th  of  May 
were  very  properly  noticed  by  the  government ;  who, 
on  the  30th  of  June,  1846,  promoted  him  to  the  rank 
of  brigadier-general. 

From  this  time  he  participated  in  the  labours  and 
perils  of  General  Taylor,  until  we  find  him  before 
Monterey,  where  the  most  arduous  service  was  assigned 
to  him.  It  will  be  recollected  by  our  reader,  that  the 
first  division,  under  General  Twiggs,  was  ordered  on 
the  21st  of  September  to  make  a  diversion  to  the  left 
of  the  town,  while  General  Worth  was  attacking  the 
heights  which  commanded  it. 

A  battery  opened  upon  the  citadel  and  town,  while 
the  first  division  were  to  advance,  and  skirmish  with 
the  enemy,  and,  if  possible,  carry  the  most  advanced 
battery.  This  duty  was  gallantly  performed,  under 
the  most  terrible  and  galling  fire  from  the  city  and  forts. 
i  The  posts  thus  captured  were  held  by  the  captors 
themselves  till  the  evening  of  the  second  day,  when 
this  wearied  garrison  was  relieved  by  General  Quit- 


TWIGGS.  265 

man's  troops.  They  nevertheless  participated  in  the 
severe  street-fighting  of  the  third  day,  which  brought 
on  the  proposition  for  surrender  on  the  fourth. 

We  refer  our  readers  to  the  very  full  and  accurate 
accounts  which  we  have  already  given  of  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Monterey,  in  our  life  of  General  Taylor,  as 
well  as  to  his  official  despatches,  for  notices  of  the  par 
ticular  part  taken  by  General  Twiggs  in  this  glorious 
affair. 

After  the  capture  of  Monterey,  General  Twiggs  was 
occupied  in  garrisoning  with  his  division  that  and  the 
other  posts  which  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans, 
until  the  grand  movement  on  Vera  Cruz  occasioned 
General  Scott  to  detach  him,  with  his  division,  from 
General  Taylor's  command.  He  was  thus  prevented 
from  sharing  the  glories  and  perils  of  Buena  Vista ;  but 
he  bore  an  honourable  and  conspicuous  part  in  the  siege 
and  capture  of  Vera  Cruz. 

According  to  the  latest  advices  from  the  army,  Gene 
ral  Twiggs  took  up  his  line  of  march  from  the  camp 
near  Vera  Cruz  towards  Jalapa,  with  a  column  of  2500 
men,  on  the  3d  of  April.  Colonel  Harney,  with  500 
dragoons,  had  preceded,  and  Colonel  Bankhead,  with 
the  2d  regiment  of  artillery,  and  a  long  train,  was  to 
follow  General  Twiggs. 

In  the  future  operations  of  the  army,  we  doubt  not 
that  the  skill  and  bravery  of  this  veteran  commander 
will  prove  of  great  service  to  the  cause  in  which  he  is 
engaged.  No  officer  appears  to  have  inspired  greater 
confidence  in  his  capacity  for  every  emergency  which 
the  war  may  hereafter  present. 

,  The  following  report  of  General  Twiggs  shows  the 
part  taken  by  his  division,  at  the  opening  of  the  siege 
of  Vera  Cruz. 


266  TAyLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  SECOND  BRIGADE  OF  THE  ARMY,  ) 
Camp  at  Vergara}  near  Vera  Cruz, 

March  15,  1847.      ) 

SIR  : — I  have  the  honour  to  report  the  occurrences 
in  which  my  brigade  has  been  concerned  since  the  com 
mencement  of  the  march  from  the  place  of  debarkation 
until  now. 

The  brigade  took  up  the  line  of  march  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  llth  instant,  the  regiment  of  mounted  rifle 
men  leading.  After  passing  the  position  of  the  first 
brigade,  the  first  squadron  of  riflemen,  composed  of 
the  companies  of  Captains  Loring  and  Mason,  under  the 
command  of  Major  Summer,  2d  dragoons,  was  sent 
forward  as  an  advanced  guard.  On  crossing  the  rail 
road,  the  advanced  guard  took  the  direct  way  over  the 
hills,  but  this  being  impassable  for  the  artillery,  the 
rest  of  the  brigade  with  the  pieces  was  obliged  to  make 
a  detour  to  the  left.  On  passing  the  position  of  General 
Pillow's  brigade,  Brevet  Captain  Alburtis,  2d  infan 
try,  and  one  private  of  riflemen,  were  killed  by  a  round 
shot,  and  two  privates  wounded.  Major  Sumncr  hav 
ing  passed  some  distance  beyond  the  position  occupied 
by  the  volunteers,  was  opposed  by  the  enemy's  light 
troops,  whom  he  drove  off,  and  halted  near  a  small 
ranch,  when  the  rest  of  the  brigade  joined  him  and 
proceeded  to  clear  the  ground  to  be  occupied  by  my 
brigade. 

The  advance  drove  the  enemy's  skirmishers  before 
it,  receiving  without  loss  their  fire,  until  it  arrived  at 
the  Orizaba  road.  On  passing  the  road,  a  party  of 
horsemen  were  perceived  stationed  on  it  to  our  left. 
Captain  Sanderson's  company  of  mounted  riflemen  was 
detached  to  attack  them,  being  supported  by  Captain 
Simson's  company  of  the  same  regiment.  He  drrve 


TWIGGS.  267 

them  off,  killing  two  captains — one  of  the  lancers,  and 
the  other  of  the  auxiliary  guard  of  Jalapa,  named  J. 
Platos.  In  this  affair,  Private  Weller,  of  Captain  San 
derson's  company,  was  severely  wounded  in  the  thigh 
by  an  escopette  ball. 

Having  driven  these  parties  off,  the  brigade  took  its 
position  in  line,  extending  as  far  towards  the  Jalapa 
road  on  the  beach  as  the  strength  of  the  brigade  would 
allow,  and  bivouacked  till  the  morning  of  the  13th, 
when  we  took  up  the  line  of  march  towards  the  sea — - 
Major  Sumner  again  commanding  the  advance  guard, 
composed  of  the  left  wing  of  the  rifle  regiment.  Making 
a  considerable  detour  to  the  left  to  avoid  some  ponds  of 
water,  I  arrived  about  noon  on  the  great  road  leading 
to  the  city  of  Mexico.  On  coming  out  here,  Lieutenant 
Robert's  company  of  mounted  riflemen  leading,  a  party 
of  mounted  men  was  discovered.  After  a  short  skirmish 
the  enemy  were  dispersed,  my  men  receiving  no  injury. 
The  head  of  the  column  arrived  at  its  present  position 
on  the  beach  at  the  village  of  Vergara,  about  two  and 
a  half  miles  from  Vera  Cruz,  a  few  minutes  after  twelve 
o'clock. 

I  would  commend  to  particular  notice  the  conduct  of 
Major  Sumner,  2d  dragoons.  His  skill  and  coolness 
inspired  those  under  his  command  with  the  fullest  con 
fidence,  and  gave  to  them  the  bearing  of  old  soldiers. 
The  officers  and  men  of  all  the  companies  engaged  gave 
entire  satisfaction.  ' 

An  important  mail  which  I  had  the  honour  to  transmit 
to  the  head-quarters  of  the  army  this  morning  by  Cap 
tain  Taylor,  was  taken  last  night  by  Captain  Magruder, 
1st  artillery,  who  was  in  command  of  one  of  the  sup 
porting  companies  sent  out  yesterday  morning  to 
skirmish  in  the  front  of  my  brigade  towards  the  city. 


268  TAYLOR  AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

The  mail  carrier  was  shot  at,  and  is  supposed  to  have 
been  wounded.  His  horse,  hat,  and  cloak  were  left  on 
the  ground  at  the  place  where  he  was  fired  at,  and  the 
mail  along  with  tnese  effects.  Captain  Magruder 
deserves  praise  for  his  zeal  and  good  conduct  in  this 
affair. 

f  Here  follows  the  list  of  killed  and  wounded.] 


SCOTT 


MAJOR-GENERAL  WINFIELD  SCOTT. 


J 

A  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE 

OF 

MAJOR-GENERAL   SCOTT, 

WITH    AN    ACCOUNT   OF 

THE   BOMBARDMENT  OF  VERA    CRUZ 


MAJOR- GENERAL  WINFIELD  SCOTT,  at  present  com- 
mander-in- chief  of  the  army  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  on  the  13th  of  June,  1786,  near  Petersburg,  Vir 
ginia.  He  was  sent  in  early  life  to  the  High  School  at 
Richmond,  went  to  William  and  Mary  College,  and 
studied  for  the  profession  of  the  law. 

In  1808,  when  the  country  was  evidently  approaching 
a  wrar  with  Great  Britain,  Scott  determined  to  seek  dis 
tinction  in  the  service,  and  accordingly  entered  the  regu 
lar  army  as  a  captain  of  light  artillery. 

His  excellent  character  as  a  disciplinarian  and  his 
punctual  attention  to  his  duties  led  to  his  rapid  pro 
motion,  and  we  find  him  a  lieut.-colonel  in  July  1812. 

Being  posted  at  Black  Rock  to  protect  the  navy  yard, 
in  October  of  that  year,  he  was  called  upon  by  Lieu 
tenant  (afterwards  Commodore  Elliot)  to,  assist  in  cutting 
out  the  Adams  and  Caledonia  from  under  the  guns  of 
Fort  Erie.  He  furnished  a  detachment  for  the  expedition, 
which  was  successful ;  and  he  afterwards  successfully  de- 


272  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

fended  the  vessels  against  a  detachment  of  the  British 
who  were  sent  out  to  retake  them. 

At  the  battle  of  Queenstown  Heights,  which  took 
place  on  the  12th  of  October,  1812,  Colonel  Scott  dis 
tinguished  himself  by  the  ardour  with  which  he  aided 
the  expedition,  as  well  as  by  his  personal  bravery  in  the 
action.  After  .the  heights  were  stormed,  Colonel  Scott, 
who  had  not  before  been  allowed  to  cross  the'river,  came 
over  as  a  volunteer ;  and  Colonel  Van  Rensellaer  having 
been  wounded,  General  Wadsworth  of  the  militia  request 
ed  Scott  to  take  the  command.  The  British  sent  up  rein 
forcements  of  regulars  and  Indians  from  Fort  George, 
and  a  new  battle  ensued  in  which  all  the  energies  of 
Scott  were  exerted.  Colonel  Chrystie,  coming  over  to 
the  Canada  side,  took  the  command :  the  main  body 
of  the  British  reinforcements,  850  strong,  under  General 
Sheaffe,  arrived,  and  the  American  militia  could  not  be 
got  across  the  river ;  so  that  a  force  of  only  300  Ameri 
cans,  opposed  to  some  1300  British  and  Indians,  were 
left  at  their  mercy.  After  maintaining  the  contest  for 
many  hours,  the  whole  detachment  surrendered. 

Scott  was  taken  with  the  other  prisoners  to  Quebec, 
where  he  was  exchanged  and  sent  in  cartel  to  Boston. 
His  good  conduct  at  Quebec  in  rescuing  certain  natural 
ized  Irish  prisoners  who  were  threatened  with  being 
treated  as  British  subjects,  was  well  rewarded.  He 
threatened  the  British  in  return  with  retaliation,  head 
for  head,  and  the  Irishmen  were  exchanged.  Scott  long- 
afterwards  witnessed  their  landing  at  New  York,  and 
being  recognised  by  the  poor  fellows,  was  loudly  thanked 
and  cheered  for  his  firm  defence  of  their  lives. 

The  next  year,  May  1813,  Colonel  Scott  returned  as 
adjutant-general  to  the  army  near  Niagara,  where  General 
Dearborn  commanded. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCCTT.  273 

The.  capture  of  York,  in  Upper  Canada,  opened  the 
campaign  of  1813.  The  troops  which  had  been  en- 
gaged  in  this  expedition,  joined  the  army  collected  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Fort  Niagara,  about  the  middle  of 
May.  Preparations  for  an  attack  on  Fort  George, 
situated  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  strait,  had  already 
far  advanced  under  Major-General  Lewis,  and  were 
continued  by  the  commander-in-chief,  General  Dear 
born,  with  increased  diligence.  Batteries  were  erected, 
subsidiary  to  the  fort,  commanding  the  enemy's  works ; 
and  boats  were  collected  or  constructed  for  the  transpor 
tation  of  the  troops.  While  these  exertions  for  an 
attack  were  making  on  our  part,  the  British  were  not 
inactive  in  providing  means  for  defence ;  but  both  sides 
were  permitted  to  pursue  their  respective  labours  un 
molested.  Those  petty  hostilities  which  disgraced  the 
first  year,  and  many  subsequent  periods  of  the  war, 
here  gave  place  to  a  seemingly  chivalrous  forbearance. 
A  slight  incident  interrupted  this  truce,  and  renewed  all 
the  horrors  of  warfare.  Some  boats,  which  had  been 
built  a  few  miles  up  the  strait,  were  launched  and  con 
ducted  down  under  the  English  batteries,  with  provok 
ing  indifference.  The  enemy,  determined  to  punish  this 
temerity,  opened  upon  them  a  desultory  and  ineffectual 
fire.  This  ,occured  on  the  night  of  the  '• —  instant.  It 
was  probably  the  intention  of  the  commander-in-chief  to 
have  reserved  the  fire  of  our  batteries  until  a  simulta 
neous  attack  could  be  made  in  another  quarter  by  the 
troops ;  but  the  fire,  once  communicated,  could  not  be 
controlled,  and  kindled  into  flame  all  our  artillery.  Un 
der  the  direction  of  Colonel  Porter,  assisted  by  Major 
Totten  of  the  engineers,  and  Captain  Archer  of  the 
artillery,  they  poured  red-hot  shot  into  the  enemy's 
combustible  works,  with  such  skilful  efficacy,  that,  ere 


274  SKETCH  OF    THE  LIFE  OF 

the  dawn  of  morning,  they  were  a  levelled  mass  of 
smoking  ruins.  The  prematurity  of  this  attack  some 
what  diminished  the  satisfaction  which  was  felt  at  its 
complete  success.  The  army  was  not  ready  to  take 
advantage  of  the  discouragement  and  panic  which  the 
sight  of  his  eviscerated  fortress  must  have  produced 
on  the  enemy.  He  had  time  to  recover  from  his  dejec 
tion,  and  renew  his  defences. 

At  length,  on  the  26th  of  May,  our  preparations 
were  deemed  sufficient,  if  not  complete,  and  the  army 
was  directed  to  embark  the  next  morning  at  twTo  o'clock 
The  fleet  under  Commodore  Chauncey,  which  had  ar 
rived  the  night  before,  was  at  anchor  off  the  creek  (about 
four  miles  down  the  lake  from  Fort  Niagara),  where  the 
army  lay  encamped.  The  following  distribution  of  com 
mands  had  previously  been  settled:  viz.  Colonel  Scott 
commanded  the  advance,  amounting  to  about  600  men, 
consisting  of  a  detachment  of  the  22d  regiment,  Forsy  th's 
corps  of  riflemen,  two  companies  of  his  own  regiment, 
the  second  artillery,  one  company  of  the  third  artillery, 
and  a  company  of  dismounted  dragoons.  The  rest  of 
the  troops,  exclusive  of  the  light  artillery,  were  divided 
into  three  brigades,  amounting  to  about  1400  men  each 
— the  first,  consisting  of  detachments  from  the  6th,  15th, 
and  16th  regiments,  and  Colonel  M'Clure's  corps  of 
volunteers,  was  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  Boyd; 
the  second,  consisting  of  detachments  from  the  5th, 
13th,  14th,  and  20th  regiments,  was  commanded  by 
Brigadier-General  Winder ;  the  third,  acting  as  a  reserve, 
was  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  Chandler.  All 
these  troops  were  to  be  embarked  in  boats.  Colonel 
Macomb's  corps  of  3d  artillery,  to  which  the  mariners 
vvere  attached, — having  arrived  in  the  fleet,  was  not  in 
cluded  in  the  first  arrangement,  but  directed  to  remain  on 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  275 

board,  to  act  as  the  commander-in-chief — who,  although 
sick,  was  likewise  to  be  there — might  deem  necessary. 
The  immediate  command  of  the  troops  was  assigned  to 
Major-General  Lewis. 

Every  exertion  was  made  to  insure  a  punctual  obe 
dience  of  the  orders  of  the  commander-in-chief;  but 
difficulties,  inseparable  from  embarkations  of  this  kind, 
delayed  the  departure  of  the  troops  until  abont  sunrise. 
At  that  time  the  divisions  of  boats  were  seen  moving, 
in  prescribed  order,  on  the  smooth  surface  of  the 
Ontario.  The  fleet  weighed  anchor  and  accompanied 
them.  A  dense  fog  rested  on  the  face  of  the  waters, 
and  veiled  their  movements. 

The  points  of  attack  had  previously  been  determined. 
A  brief  topographical  explanation  will  indicate  and 
render,  them  understood.  The  course  of  the  Niagara 
strait,  for  about  one  mile  from  its  mouth,  describes  the 
segment  of  a  circle,  its  convex  side  formed  by  the 
American  shore.  Fort  George  stands  on  the  Canadian 
side,  about  thirteen  hundred  yards  from  the  lake ;  the 
village  of  Newark  interjacent.  A  cleared  level  plain 
lies  between  Newark  and  the  lake.  Skirting  this  plain 
and  the  rear  of  the  village,  is  a  thick  wood,  which, 
commencing  on  the  lake,  spreads,  with  the  exception 
of  a  few  farms,  over  the  adjacent  country.  The  lake 
shore  of  this  plain,  and  particularly  of  the  wood,  is 
steep,  high,  and  rather  difficult  of  ascent,  declivous  a 
few  yards  from  the  brink,  and  forming  a  natural  breast 
work.  The  woody  part  of  this  shore  was  selected  as 
the  principal  point  of  attack.  Auxiliary  to  this  main 
attack,  and  by  way  of  diversion,  a  company  of  light 
artillery,  and  a  squadron  of  dragoons,  under  Colonel 
Burn,  were  directed  to  march  up  the  right  bank  of  the 
strait,  and  threaten  a  passage  to  intercept  the  route 


276  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

^M 

leading  to  Queenstown.     Our  batteries  were  likewise 

opened,  early  in  the  morning,  upon  all  the  enemy's 
works. 

About  nine  o'clock  A.  M.,  when  our  fleet  and  boats 
had  arrived  within  about  two  miles  of  the  Canadian 
shore,  a  brisker  breeze  sprung  up,  dispersed  the  fog, 
and  unveiled  them  to  the  enemy.  The  ascending  vapours, 
gilt  by  the  bright  sun,  floating  above, — the  lofty 
fleet  and  bannered  boats,  moving  below,  together  formed 
a  scene  at  once  imposing  and  beautiful.  The  proud 
or  anxious  feelings  of  the  combatants  subsided  for  a 
moment,  at  the  sight,  into  emotions  far  removed  from 
the  mood  of  war. 

The  enemy  lay  concealed  within  the  woods,  and 
sheltered  behind  the  natural  breast-work  from  the  fire 
of  our  smaller  vessels,  which  had  already  taken  com 
manding  anchorage  near  the  shore.  The  advance,  under 
Colonel  Scott,  led  the  van, — the  other  brigades  follow 
ing  in  numerical  order.  As  soon  as  the  advance  came 
within  reach  of  his  shot,  the  enemy,  with  a  kind  of 
magical  celerity,  arose  from  his  concealment,  and  poured 
upon  our  troops  a  severe  but  ill-directed  fire.  Undis 
mayed  by  this  reception,  our  boats,  disdaining  to  return 
a  shot,  only  accelerated  their  course.  They  soon  struck 
the  beach,  and  leaping  upon  it,  formed  with  rapidity, 
and  rushed  up  the  bank.  The  unbroken  and  far  supe 
rior  enemy  soon  obliged  them  to  recoil.  Two  or  three 
times,  it  is  believed,  this  gallant  little  band  ascended, 
with  undiscouraged  but  ineffectual  valour,  during  the 
eight  or  ten  minutes  whifch  intervened  between  the  com 
mencement  of  the  attack  and  the  arrival  'of  the  first 
brigade.  This  brigade  now  joining  the  advance,  the 
whole  resolutely  mounted  the  bank,  and  formed  on  its 
crest.  A  destructive  fire  was  interchanged  for  about 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  277 

ten  minutes,  with  equal  obstinacy  on  both  sides,  when 
the  different  regiments  being  ordered  to  advance,  the 
enemy  gave  way,  and  retreated  upon  the  rear  of  the 
village.  Just  as  the  shout  of  victory  proclaimed  our 
triumph,  the  second  brigade  reached  the  shore.  Gen 
eral  Chandler's  reserve  and  Colonel  Macomb's  command 
followed  in  quick  succession.  The  whole  line  now 
marched  by  the  left  into  the  contiguous  plain,  and  form 
ing  there,  waited  the  arrival  of  Major-General  Lewis. 
In  this  position,  the  enemy,  probably  to  stay  our  pro 
gress,  and  mask  his  intended  retreat,  opened  upon  us  a 
fire  of  shrapnel-shells  from  the  village ;  but  was  soon 
silenced  by  our  light  artillery,  under  Colonel  Porter. 
Major-General  Lewis  now  assumed  the  command,  and 
directed  a  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  Just  as  the  head  of 
our  column  debouched  from  the  village,  the  rear  of  the 
enemy's  column  was  seen  evacuating  the  fort.  The 
pursuit  was  urged,  but  his  main  body  was  already  out  of 
sight.  As  the  flag  of  the  fort  was  still  flying,  Captain 
Hindman  was  detached  to  take  possession  of  it.  A  few 
officers,  among  whom  were  Scott  and  Porter,  preceded 
him.  As  they  approachedj  a  magazine  exploded.  The 
remembrance  of  York  made  them  pause ;  but  entering 
immediately  after,  Scott  took  down  the  flag  with  his 
own  hands.  Rejoining  the  column,  he  continued  the 
pursuit  towards  Queenstown.  Colonel  Burn  now 
crossed  with  his  dragoons,  and  joined  the  army.  An  order 
from  the  commander-in-chief  arrested  their  march, 
when  within  a  few  miles  of  Queenstown,  and  directed 
them  to  return  and  encamp  at  Newark.  The  day  was 
now  far  spent,  and  the  army  exhausted ;  it  retrograded 
to  Fort  George,  and  there  reposed  that  night. 

After  this  affair  (July  1813)  Colonel  Scott  was  pro 
moted  to  the  command  of  a  regiment ;  and,  resigning  his 


278  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

office  of  adjutant-general,  he  was  present  at  the  expedi 
tion  to  Burlington  Heights,  and  the  capture  and  burning 
of  York.  He  next  commanded  a  battalion  in  the  corps 
d'elite  of  General  Macomb,  and  led  the  van-guard  of 
the  army  when  it  descended  the  St.  Lawrence  in  the 
expedition  against  Montreal.  The  expedition  failed  for 
want  of  concert  and  co-operation  among  the  generals, 
who  were  to  meet  and  act  in  concert. 

In  1814  occurred  the  most  brilliant  campaign  of  the 
whole  war.  The  battles  of  Niagara,  Chippewa,  and 
Queenstown,  in  which  Scott  bore  a  conspicuous  part, 
form  the  brightest  ornaments  of  this  famous  campaign. 
In  our  notice  of  General  Worth  we  have  given  an 
account  of  the  battles  of  Chippewa  and  Niagara. 

The  following  more  minute  account  of  the  battle  of 
the  Falls  is  contained  in  an  extract  from  the  journal  of 
an  officer  who  was  in  the  battle  of  Niagara,  intimate 
with  General  Brown  and  high  in  his  confidence. 

In  pursuance  of  a  previous  determination,  the  army 
was  busily  engaged  preparing  for  a  rapid  march  upon 
Burlington.  About  noon  on  the  25th,  Colonel  Swift, 
who  was  posted  at  Lewistown,  advised  General  Brown, 
by  express,  that  the  enemy  appeared  in  considerable 
force  in  Queenstown  and  on  its  heights ;  that  four  of  his 
fleet  had  arrived  during  the  preceding  night,  and  were 
then  lying  near  Fort  Niagara,  and  that  a  number  of 
boats  were  in  view,  moving  up  the  strait.  Within  a 
few  minutes  after  this  intelligence  had  been  received, 
the  commander-in-chief  was  further  informed  by  Cap 
tain  Denman,  of  the  quartermaster's  department,  that 
the  enemy  was  landing  at  Lewistown,  and  that  our  bag 
gage  and  stores  at  Schlosser,  and  on  their  way  thither, 
were  in  danger  of  immediate  capture.  It  was  conceived 
that  the  most  effectual  method  of  recalling  him  from 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  279 

this  object,  was  to  put  the  army  in  motion  towards 
Queenstown.  If  he  was  in  the  field  upon  the  Canada 
side  of  the  strait,  our  business  was  to  meet  and  fight 
him  without  loss  of  time,  as  General  Brown  had  almost 
ceased  to  hope  for  reinforcements  or  co-operation  from 
any  quarter.  The  support,  upon  which  the  general 
hitherto  relied,  had  failed  to  appear,  and  the  enemy 
having  the  power  of  the  lake  could  reinforce  at  pleasure. 
General  Scott,  with  the  first  brigade,  Towson's 
artillery,  and  all  the  dragoons  and  mounted  men,  were 
accordingly  put  in  march  on  the  road  leading  towards 
Queenstown.  General  Scott  was  particularly  instructed 
to  report  if  the  enemy  appeared,  and  to  call  for  assist 
ance  if  that  were  necessary — having  the  command  of 
the  dragoons,  he  would  have,  it  was  believed,  the  means 
of  collecting  and  communicating  intelligence.  On  the 
general's  arriving  near  the  Falls,  he  learned  that  the 
enemy  was  in  force  directly  in  his  front/ a  narrow  piece 
of  woods  alone  intercepting  his  view  of  them.  Waiting 
only  to  send  this  information,  but  not  to  receive  any 
communication  in  return,  he  advanced  upon  them. — 
Hearing  the  report  of  the  cannon  and  small  arms,  Gen 
eral  Brown  at  once  concluded  that  battle  had  commenced 
between  the  advance  of  the  armies,  and,  without  waiting 
for  any  information  from  General  Scott,  ordered  the 
2d  brigade  and  all  the  artillery  to  march  as  rapidly  as 
possible  to  his  support.  Having  done  this,  he  rode  with 
his  aids-de-camp  and  Major  M'Ree  with  all  speed  to 
wards  the  scene  of  action.  As  he  approached  the  Falls, 
a  full  mile  from  the  Chippewa,  he  met  Major  Jones, 
assistant  adjutant-general,  who  had  accompanied  Gen 
eral  Scott,  bearing  a  message  from  him,  advising  Gen 
eral  Brown  that  he  had  met  the  enemy.  From  the 
information  given  by  Major  Jones,  it  was  concluded  to 
IS 


280  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

order  up  General  Porter's  command.  Major  Jones  was 
sent  with  the  order  to  General  Porter.  Advancing  a 
little  further,  General  Brown  and  suite  met  Major  Wood 
of  the  corps  of  engineers,  who  had  also  accompanied 
General  Scott.  He  reported  that  the  conflict  between 
Scott  and  the  enemy  was  close  and  desperate,  and  urged 
that  reinforcements  might  be  hurried  to  his  support. 
The  reinforcements  were  now  marching  with  all  possi 
ble  rapidity.  Major  Wood  accompanied  the  command 
ing  general  to  the  field  of  battle.  Upon  his  arrival  the 
general  found  that  General  Scott  had  passed  the  wood 
and  engaged  the  enemy  on  the  Queenstown  road,  and 
on  the  ground  to  the  left  of  it,  with  the  9th,  llth,  and 
22d  regiments,  and  Towson's  artillery.  The  25th  had 
been  thrown  to  the  right,  to  be  governed  by  circum 
stances. 

Apprehending  that  these  troops  were  much  exhausted, 
and  knowing  that  they  had  suffered  severely  in  the  con 
test,  Gen.  Brown  determined  to  interpose  a  new  line  with 
the  advancing  troops,  and  thus  disengage  General  Scott 
and  hold  his  brigade  in  reserve.  By  this  tune  Captains 
Biddle  and  Richie's  companies  of  artillery  had  come 
into  action,  and  the  head  of  General  Ripley's  column 
was  nearly  up  with  the  right  of  General  Scott's  line. 
At  this  moment  the  enemy  fell  back,  and,  as  was  be 
lieved,  in  consequence  of  the  arrival  of  fresh  troops, 
which  they  could  see  and  began  to  feel.  General  Rip- 
ley  was  ordered  to  pass  Scott's  line  and  display  his 
column  in  front.  The  movement  was  commenced  in 
obedience  to  the  order.  Majors  M'Ree  and  Wood  had 
been  rapidly  reconnoitering  the  enemy  and  his  position. 
M'Ree  reported  that  the  enemy  appeared  to  have  taken 
a  new  position,  and  with  his  artillery  occupied  a  height 
which  gave  him  great  advantages,  it  being  the  key  of 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  281 

the  whole  position.  To  secure  the  victory  it  was  neces 
sary  to  carry  his  artillery  and  seize  the  height.  M'Ree 
was  ordered  by  the  commander-in-chief  to  conduct  Rip- 
ley's  column  on  the  Queenstown  road,  with  a  view  to 
this  object,  and  to  prepare  the  21st  regiment,  under 
Colonel  Miller,  for  this  duty.  The  2d  brigade  imme 
diately  advanced  upon  the  Queenstown  road.  General 
Brown,  with  his  aids-de-camp  and  Major  Wood,  passed 
to  the  left  of  the  2d  brigade,  in  front  of  the  first, 
towards  the  enemy's  artillery :  an  extended  line  of 
infantry  was  formed  for  the  support  of  his  artillery. 

The  1st  regiment  of  infantry,  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Nicholas,  which  had  arrived  that  day,  and  was 
attached  to  neither  of  the  brigades,  but  marched  to  the 
field  of  battle  in  the  rear  of  the  2d,  was  ordered 
promptly  to  break  off  to  the  left,  and  form  a  line  facing 
the  enemy's  on  the  height,  with  a  view  of  drawing  his 
fire  and  attracting  his  attention,  as  Miller  advanced 
with  the  bayonet  upon  his  left  flank  to  carry  the  artil 
lery.  As  the  1st  regiment,  conducted  by  Major  Wood, 
and  commanded  by  Colonel  Nicholas,  approached  its 
position,  the  commander-in-chief  rode  to  Colonel  Miller 
and  ordered  him  to  advance  with  the  bayonet  and  carry 
the  enemy's  artillery — he  replied,  with  great  prompt 
ness  and  good  humour,  "  It  shall  be  done,  sir."  At  this 
moment  the  1st  regiment  gave  way  under  the  fire  of  the 
enemy ;  but  Miller,  without  regard  to  this  occurrence, 
advanced  steadily  and  gallantly  to  his  object,  and  car 
ried  the  heights  and  the  cannon  in  a  style  rarely  equal 
led — never  excelled.  At  the  point  of  time  when  Miller 
moved,  the  23d  regiment  was  on  his  right,  a  little  in  the 
rear — General  Ripley  led  this  regiment :  it  had  some 
desperate  fighting,  and  in  a  degree  gave  way,  but  was 
promptly  rallied  and  brought  up  and  formed  upon  the 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

right  of  the  21st,  and  the  detachments  of  the  17th  and 
19th., 

General  Ripley,  being  now  with  his  brigade,  formed 
in  line,  with  the  captured  cannon,  nine  pieces,  in  his 
rear,  and  the  enemy  driven  from  their  commanding 
ground — the  1st  regiment  having  been  rallied,  was 
brought  into  line  by  Colonel  Nicholas  on  the  left  of  the 
2d  brigade;  and  General  Porter,  coming  up  at  this 
time,  occupied  with  his  command  the  extreme  left — our 
artillery  formed  on  the  right  and  between  the  23d  and 
21st  regiments. 

Having  given  the  order  to  Colonel  Miller  to  storm 
the  heights,  and  carry  the  enemy's  cannon  as  he  ad 
vanced,  General  Brown  moved  to  the  rear  of  his  right 
flank  with  Major  Wood  and  Captain  Spencer,  as  far  as  the 
Queenstown  road.  Turning  down  that  road,  he  passed 
directly  in  the  rear  of  the  23d  regiment,  as  they 
advanced  to  the  support  of  Colonel  Miller.  The  shouts 
of  the  American  soldiers  on  the  height,  at  this  moment, 
convinced  him  of  Miller's  cuccess,  and  he  hastened 
towards  the  place,  designing  to  turn  from  the  Queenstown 
road  up  Lundy's  Lane.  In  the  act  of  doing  so,  Wood 
and  Spencer,  who  were  about  a  horse's  length  before 
him,  were  very  near  riding  upon  a  body  of  the  enemy, 
,and  nothing  prevented  them  from  doing  this,  but  an 
officer  exclaiming  before  them, "  They  are  the  Yankees :" 
the  exclamation  halted  the  American  officers,  and  upon 
looking  down  the  road  they  saw  a  line  of  British 
infantry  drawn  up  near  the  north  fence  of  the  road, 
with  its  right  resting  near  Lundy's  Lane. 

The  officer  who  gave  the  alarm,  had  at  that  moment 
discovered  Major  Jessup.  The  major,  as  has  been  al 
ready  stated,  had  been  ordered  by  General  Scott,  at, 
the  commencement  of  the  action,  to  tal^e  ground  to  his 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  283 

right.  He  had  succeeded  in  turning  the  enemy's  left 
flank,  had  captured  General  Riall  and  sundry  other 
officers,  and  sent  them  to  camp ;  then,  feeling  his  way 
silently  towards  where  the  battle  was  raging,  he  had 
brought  his  regiment,  the  25th,  with  but  little  compara 
tive  loss,  up  to  the  southerly  fence  of  the  Queenstown 
road,  a  little  to  the  east  of  Lundy's  Lane.  The  moment 
the  British  officer  gave  Jessup  notice  of  his  having  dis 
covered  him,  Jessup  ordered  his  command  to  fire  upon 
the  enemy's  line. 

The  lines  could  not  have  been  more  than  four  rods 
apart;  Jessup  behind  the  south  fence,  the  British  in  front 
of  the  north.  The  slaughter  was  dreadful:  the  enemy's 
line  fled  down  the  Queenstown  road  at  the  third  or 
fourth  fire.  As  the  firing  ceased,  General  Brown  ap 
proached  Major  Jessup ;  the  latter  asked  where  he  should 
form  his  regiment,  and  was  directed  to  move  up  Lundy's 
Lane  and  form  upon  the  right  of  the  second  brigade. 

The  enemy  rallying  his  broken  corps,  and  having  re 
ceived  reinforcements,  was  now  discovered  in  good  order 
and  in  great  force.  The  commanding  general  doubted 
the  correctness  of  the  information,  and,  to  ascertain  the 
truth,  passed  in  person  with  his  suite  in  front  oftour  line. 
He  could  now  no  longer  doubt,  as  a  more  extended  line 
than  he  had  seen  during  the  engagement  was  near  and 
advancing  upon  us. 

Captain  Spencer,  without  saying  a  word,  put  spurs 
to  his  horse  and  rode  directly  up  to  the  advancing  line ; 
then,  turning  to  the  left  towards  the  enemy's  right,  in 
quired,  in  a  strong  and  firm  voice,  "  What  regiment  is 
that  ?"  and  was  as  promptly  answered,  "  The  Royal 
Scots,  sir."  General  Brown  and  suite  now  threw 
themselves  behind  our  own  troops  without  loss  of  time, 
and  patiently  awaited  the  attack. 


284  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

The  enemy  advanced  slowly  and  firmly  upon  us: 
perfect  silence  was  preserved  throughout  both  armies, 
until  the  enemy's  line  approached  to  within  from  four 
to  six  rods — our  troops  had  levelled  their  pieces,  and  the 
artillery  was  prepared — the  order  to  fire  was  given — 
most  awful  was  its  effect :  the  lines  closed  in  part  before 
that  of  the  enemy  was  broken :  he  then  retired  pre 
cipitately,  the  American  fire  following  him.  The  field 
was  covered  with  the  slain,  but  not  an  enemy  capable 
of  marching  was  to  be  seen.  We  dressed  our  lines 
upon  the  ground  we  occupied :  General  Brown  was  not 
disposed  to  leave  it  in  the  dark,  knowing  it  to  be  the 
best  in  the  neighbourhood :  his  intention  then  was  to 
maintain  it  until  day  should  dawn,  and  then  to  be 
governed  by  circumstances. 

Our  gallant  and  accomplished  foe  did  not  give  us 
much  time  for  deliberation.  He  showed  himself  again 
within  twenty  minutes,  apparently  undismayed  and  in 
good  order. 

General  Ripley  now  urged  the  commander-in-chief  to 
order  up  Scott,  who  had  all  this  time  been  held  in 
reserve  with  three  of  his  battalions.  The  commander 
rode  in  person  to  General  Scott  and  ordered  him  to 
advance.  That  officer  was  prepared  and  expecting  the 
call.  As  Scott  advanced  towards  Ripley's  right,  Gen 
eral  Brown  passed  to  the  left  to  speak  with  General 
Porter,  and  see  the  condition  and  countenance  of  his 
militia,  who,  at  that  moment,  were  thrown  into  some 
confusion  under  a  most  galling  and  deadly  fire  from  the 
enemy  ;  they  were,  however,  kept  to  their  duty  by  the 
exertions  of  their  gallant  chief,  and  most  nobly  sus 
tained  the  conflict.  The  enemy  was  repulsed  and  again 
driven  out  of  sight.  But  a  short  time,  however,  had 
elapsed,  when  he  was  once  more  distinctly  seen,  in 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT. 


285 


oreat  force,  advancing  upon  our  main  line  under  the 
command  of  Ripley  and  Porter, 

The  direction  that  Scott  had  given  to  his  column 
would  have  enabled  him,  within  five  minutes,  to  have 
formed  line  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  right,  and  thus 
have  brought  him  between  two  fires.  But  in  a  moment 
most  unexpected,  a  flank  fire  from  a  party  of  the  enemy, 
concealed  upon  our  left,  falling  upon  the  centre  of 
Scott's  command,  when  in  open  column,  blasted  our 
proud  expectations.  His  column  was  severed  in  two ; 
one  part  passing  to  the  rear,  the  other  by  the  right  flank 
of  platoons  towards  our  main  line.  About  this  period 
General  Brown  received  his  first  wound,  a  musket-ball 
passing  through  his  right  thigh.  A  few  minutes  after 
wards,  Captain  Spencer,  aid-de-eamp  to  General  Brown, 
received  his  mortal  wound. 

By  this  time  the  enemy  had  nearly  closed  with  our 
main  line.  Moving  up  to  the  left  of  this  line,  General 
Brown  received  a  violent  blow  from  a  ball  of  some 
description  upon  his  left  side.  The  ball  did  not  enter, 
but  such  was  its  force  that  it  nearly  unhorsed  him.  In 
the  general's  own  words,  "  he  began  to  doubt  his  ability 
to  sit  his  horse;  and,  meeting  with  his  confidential 
friend,  Colonel  Wood,  he  thought  proper  to  inform  him 
of  his  wounds  and  condition."  Wood  exclaimed,  with 
great  emotion:  "  Never  mind,  my  dear  general,  you  are 
gaining  the  greatest  victory  that  was  ever  gained  by 
your  nation."  "  His  gallant  soul  (says  General  Brown)' 
was  exclusively  occupied  with  the  battle  that  was  then 
raging,  if  possible,  with  redoubled  fury." 

This  was  the  last  desperate  effort  made  by  the  enemy 
to  regain  his  position  and  artillery.  A  broader  display  of 
heroism  was  never  exhibited ;  the  hostile  lines  met  in 
several  places,  and  we  captured  a  number  of  prisoners 


286  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

who  surrendered  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  Porter's 
volunteers  were  not  excelled  by  the  regulars  during  this 
charge.  They  were  seen  precipitated  by  their  heroic 
commander  upon  the  enemy's  line,  which  they  broke 
and  dispersed,  making  many  prisoners.  The  enemy 
seemed  now  to  be  effectually  routed — they  disappeared. 
In  a  conversation  which  occurred  a  few  minutes  after 
wards,  between  General  Brown,  Colonels  Wood  and 
M'Ree,  and  two  or  three  other  officers,  it  was  the 
unanimous  belief  of  the  whole  circle,  that  we  had  no 
thing  to  fear  from  the  enemy  with  whom  we  had  been 
contending ;  but  it  appeared  to  be  admitted  upon  all 
hands,  that  it  would  be  judicious  to  retire  to  camp. 
The  idea  did  not  occur  to  any  one  present  tfrat  it  would 
be  necessary  to  leave  behind  a  man  or  a  cannon.  Colonel 
M'Ree  expressly  stated,  that  ther.e  would  be  no  diffi 
culty  in  removing  the  cannon  by  hand  :  wagons  had  been 
provided  for  the  wounded.  General  Brown,  suffering 
severely  from  his  wound,  now  moved  off  with  Captain 
Austen,  his  surviving  aid-de-camp,  observing  to-  the 
other  officers,  that  they  would  remain  and  aid  General 
Ripley  by  all  the  means  in  their  power. 

As  the  general  moved  towards  camp,  many  scatter 
ing  men  were  seen  by  him  on  the  road;  none  appeared 
to  be  alarmed ;  not  a  man  was  running  away ;  but,  hav 
ing  lost  their  officers,  had  taken  the  liberty  to  seek  for 
water,  and  were  either  drinking  or  struggling  fo-r  drink. 
This  scene  confirmed  General  Brown  in  the  belief  that 
it  was  proper  for  the  army  to  return  to  camp,  for  the 
purpose  of  being  re-organized  and  refreshed  before  morn 
ing  ;  that  being  the  only  situation  where  our  scattering 
men  could,  in  the  night,  be  certainly  collected  and 
arranged  to  their  companies  and  battalions.  An  officer 
was  accordingly  sent  to  say  to  General  Ripley,  that  the 


MAJOR-GENERAL   SCOTT.  287 

\vounded  men  and  cannon  being  brought  off,  the  army 
would  return  to  camp. 

Being  supported  on  his  horse,  the  commander-in-chief 
moved  slowly  on  to  his  tent.  It  was  not  many  minutes 
before  it  was  reported  to  him  that  General  Ripley  had 
returned  to  camp,  having  left  the  captured  cannon  on 
the  field.  General  Ripley  being  immediately  sent  for, 
General  Brown  stated  to  him,  that  no  doubt  remained 
upon  his  mind  but  that  the  enemy  had  retired,  and  that 
our  victory  was  complete.  He  appeared  to  be  of  the 
same  opinion,  as  wras  every  officer  present. 

General  Brown  then,  in  strong  and  emphatical  lan 
guage,  ordered  General  Ripley  to  re-organize  his  bat 
talions,  to  see  that  they  were  refreshed  with  whatever 
comforts  it  might  be  in  his  power  to  afford,  and  put 
himself,  with  every  man  he  could  muster,  on  the  field  of 
battle,  as  the  day  dawned,  there  and  then  to  be  governed 
by  circumstances : — at  all  events  to  bring  off  the  cap 
tured  cannon.  It  was -not  believed  that  the  enemy 
would  dare  to  attack  him  if  he  showed  a  good  counte 
nance.  General  Ripley  left  General  Brown  with  the 
conviction  that  he  would  execute  the  order  given  him — 
he  did  not  make  the  slightest  objection  to  it — no  objec 
tion  was  made  from  any  quarter. 

As  day  approached,  finding  that  the  columns  had  not 
moved,  General  Brown  ordered  his  staff  to  go  to  the 
commanding  officers  of  every  corps,  and  order  them  to 
be  promptly  prepared  to  march  in  obedience  to  the 
order  given  to  General  Ripley ;  but  it  was  sunrise  be 
fore  the  army  had  crossed  the  Chippewa.  General 
Ripley  led  on  his  troops  as  far  as  Bridgewater  mills : 
halting;  his  column  there,  he  returned  to  the  commander- 
'n-cliief,  and  objected  to  proceeding  further — General 


288  SKETCH  OP  THE  LIFE  OF 

Brown 'persisted:  when  he  informed  him  that  General 
Porter  was  also  opposed  to  proceeding.  At  these 
words,  General  Brown  replied,  "  Sir,  you  will  do  as  you 
please  :"  and  had  no  farther  intercourse  with  him  until 
they  met  at  Buffalo. 

General  Brown  entertained  no  doubt  of  the  intelli 
gence  or  personal  bravery  of  General  Ripley ;  nor  did 
he  ever  express  himself  to  that  effect.  In  consequence, 
however,  of  the  events  of  the  night  of  the  25th,  but 
more  especially  of  the  morning  of  the  26th,  his  confi 
dence  in  him  as  a  commander  appeared  to  be  somewhat 
diminished.  He  was  apprehensive  that  he  dreaded  re 
sponsibility  more  than  danger — that  he  had  a  greater 
stock  of  physical  than  of  moral  courage.  General  Scott 
and  himself  being  both  severely  wounded,  he,  therefore, 
without  loss  of  time,  despatched  a  courier  to  General 
Gaines,  ordering  him  on  to  take  the  command  of  the 
gallant  remains  of  the  army  of  Niagara,  that  were  now 
preparing  to  defend  themselves  within  the  lines  of  Fort 

Erie. 

\ 

Scott  fell  severely  wounded  in  the  battle  of  the  Falls. 
At  first  his  life  was  despaired  of;  but  after  he  had  suffi 
ciently  recovered  to  be  removed  to  Philadelphia  and 
placed  under  the  care  of  Drs.  Physic  and  Chapman,  he 
was  soon  completely  recovered.  When  peace  returned 
it  found  him  a  major-general,  and  specially  honoured  by 
a  gold  medal  conferred  by  a  resolution  of  Congress  ot 
November  1814,  for  the  battles  of  Chippewa  and  Nia 
gara.  In  1816  the  Virginia  legislature  conferred  upon 
General  Scott  a  sword,  as  a  token  of  the  high  opinion 
that  assembly  entertained  of  his  gallantry  and  dis 
tinguished  services  in  the  battles  of  Chippewa  and 
Niagara.  The  legislature  of  New  YorK  also  conferred 


MAJOR- GENERAL  SCOTT.  289 

a  sword  on  General  Scott,  with  a  vote  of  thanks  for  his 
services. 

General  Scott  in  1817  married  Miss  Mayo,  of  Rich 
mond,  Virginia,  by  whom  he  has  several  children. 

We  pass  over  the  incidents  of  the  Black  Hawk  war, 
the  Florida  war,  and  the  threatened  border  war  with 
Canada ;  because  these  afforded  no  opportunity  for  the 
display  of  those  brilliant  military  talents  which  distin 
guished  General  Scott  in  early  life.  We  believe,  how 
ever,  that  it  is  generally  admitted  in  military  circles  that 
General  Scott's  plan  for  terminating  the  Florida  war 
would  have  brought  the  whole  affair  to  a  speedy  close ; 
and  that  his  being  withdrawn  from  the  command  pro 
tracted  it.  It  is  also  admitted  that  his  services  in  bring 
ing  those  New  York  border  troubles  to  an  end  were  of 
the  utmost  importance — that  his  skill  and  prudence  as 
a  diplomatist  were  fully  equal  to  his  courage  and  con 
duct  as  an  officer. 

The  gallant  Taylor  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
Army  of  Occupation,  on  the  recommendation  of  General 
Scott.  His  success  has  evinced  the  sound  judgment  of 
Scott  in  the  selection.  When  actual  hostilities  occurred, 
General  Scott  was  offered  the  chief  command.  In  order 
to  afford  General  Taylor  a  full  opportunity  to  further 
distinguish  himself,  Scott  suggested  to  the  government 
the  propriety  of  his  passing  the  summer  months,  the 
period  of  inevitable  inaction,  in  collecting  and  drilling  the 
forces,  necessary  for  effective  operations  in  Mexico ;  and 
then  joining  Taylor  with  large  reinforcements. 

The  subsequent  character  of  the  war  has  evinced  the 
superior  judgment  of  General  Scott  in  this  plan  of  opera 
tions.  As  this  plan  was  not  acceded  to,  he  requested  to 
be  ordered  at  once  to  the  scene  of  action,  and  was  per 
emptorily  refused. 


290  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

In  November,  he  received  the  following  order : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  | 
November  23rf?  1846.          j 

SIR  :  The  president,  several  days  since,  communi 
cated  in  person  to  you  his  orders  to  repair  to  Mexico,  to 
take  the  command  of  the  forces  there  assembled,  and  par 
ticularly  to  organize  and  set  on  foot  an  expedition  to 
operate  on  the  Gulf  coast,  if,  on  arriving  at  the  theatre 
of  action,  you  shall  deem  it  to  be  practicable.  It  is  not 
proposed  to  control  your  operations  by  definite  and 
positive  instructions,  but  you  are  left  to  prosecute  them 
as  your  judgment,  under  a  full  view  of  all  the  circum 
stances,  shall  dictate.  The  work  is  before  you,  and  the 
means  provided,  or  to  be  provided,  for  accomplishing  it, 
are  committed  to  you,  in  the  full  confidence  that  you 
will  use  them  to  the  best  advantage. 
'  The  objects  which  it  is  desirable  to  obtain  have  been 
indicated,  and  it  is  hoped  that  you  will  have  the 
requisite  force  to  accomplish  them. 

Of  this  you  must  be  the  judge,  when  preparations 
are  made,  and  the  time  for  action  arrived. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  L.  MARCY, 

Secretary  of  War. 
Gen.  WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

In  obedience  to  this  order,  General  Scott  left  Wash 
ington  on  the  24th  of  November,  and  sailed  from  New 
York  on  the  30th. 

He  reached  the  Rio  Grande  on  the  1st  of  January. 
As  the  force  which  he  found  there  was  totally  inade 
quate  to  the  object  of  capturing  Vera  Cruz,  he  was 
under  the  necessity  of  detaching  a  portion  of  General 
Taylor's  army,  and  General  Worth  was  accordingly 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  291 

ordered  to  leave  Saltillo,  with  a  body  of  regular  infan 
try,  requisite  for  storming  Vera  Cruz,  leaving  10,000 
volunteers,  and  several  companies  of  regular  artillery, 
with  General  Taylor.  These  forces  were  distributed ' 
in  the  different  parts  under  his  command,  so  as  to  leave 
him,  as  we  have  already  seen,  but  5400  men  for  Buena 
Vista. 

The  troops  from  the  upper  Rio  Grande  were  taken  on 
board  transports  at  Tampico,  and  joined  others  who 
were  ordered  to  rendezvous  at  the  island  of  Lobos, 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  west  and 
north  of  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz.  This  is  a  small  island 
about  a  mile  in  circumference.  On  the  15th  of  Feb 
ruary,  there  were  encamped  at  this  place  the  Charleston 
regiment,  seven  companies  of  the  1st  Pennsylvania 
regiment,  three  of  the  2d,  three  of  the  Mississippi, 
ten  North  Carolina,  six  Louisiana,  and  a  New -York 
regiment  and  400  regulars  under  Major  Bates,  amount 
ing  in  all  to  4000  men,  with  eighteen  first-class  vessels 
at  anchor,  all  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  other  forces 
under  General  Scott. 

Meantime  a  regiment  of  Louisiana  volunteers  in  the1 
Ondiaka  were  wrecked  on  the  coast.  General  Cos,  with 
a  large  Mexican  force,  demanded  their  surrender.  But 
Colonel  de  Russy,  their  commander,  having  shown  a 
firm  front,  although  his  men  were  nearly  without  arms, 
delayed  a  final  answer  till  night ;  and  then  marched  oft', 
leaving  the  camp-fires  burning,  and  the  heavy  baggage, 
and  reaching  Tampico  by  a  rapid  march,  without  en 
countering  opposition, 

It  was  not.  till  the  7th  of  March  that  General  Scott, 
after  concentrating;  his  forces,  amounting  to  about  12,000 

(  O  J  O  1 

men,   and  embarking  them  in   the  fleet,  consisting  of 


292  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

ships  and  transports  of  all  sizes  amounting  to  one  hun 
dred,  arrived  at  Anton  Lizardo. 

In  company  with  Commodore  Conner,  then  com 
manding  the  naval  force,  the  general,  in  the  steamer 
Petrita,  made  a  reconnoissance,  and  selected  the  beach 
due  west  from  the  island  of  Sacrificios  as  the  most 
suitable  point  for  making  the  landing  of  the  troops  for 
the  investment  of  Vera  Cruz. 

The  commodore's  official  letter  to  the  secretary  of  the 
navy,  dated  off  Sacrificios,  thus  describes  the  landing. 

"  The  anchorage  near  this  place  being  extremely  con 
tracted,  it  became  necessary,  in  order  to  avoid  crowding 
it  with  an  undue  number  of  vessels,  to  transfer  most  of 
the  troops  to  the  vessels  of  war  for  transportation  to 
Sacrificios.  Accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  9th, 
at  daylight,  all  necessary  preparations — such  as  launch 
ing  and  numbering  the  boats,  detailing  officers,  &c., — 
having  been  previously  made,  this  transfer  was  com 
menced.  The  frigates  received  on  board  between 
twenty-five  and  twenty-eight  hundred  men  each,  with 
their  arms  and  accoutrements,  and  the  sloops  and 
smaller  vessels  numbers  in  proportion.  This  part  of 
the  movement  was  completed  very  successfully  abmiL 
eleven  o'clock  A.  M.,  and  a  few  minutes  thereafter  the 
squadron  under  my  command,  accompanied  by  the 
commanding  general,  in  the  steamship  Massachusetts, 
and  such  of  the  transports  as  had  been  selected  for  the 
purpose,  got  under  way. 

"  The  weather  was  very  fine — indeed  we  could  not 
have  been  more  favoured  in  this  particular  than  we 
were.  We  had  a  fresh  and  yet  gentle  breeze  from  the 
south-east,  and  a  perfectly  smooth  sea.  The  passage 
to  Sacrificios  occupied  us  between  two  and  three  hours. 
Each  ship  came  in  and  anchored  without  the  slightest 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  293 

disorder  or  confusion,  in  the  small  space  allotted  to  her 
• — the  harbour  being  still  very  much  crowded,  notwith 
standing  the  number  of  transports  we  had  left  behind. 
The  disembarkation  commenced  on  the  instant. 

"  Whilst  we  were  transferring  the  troops  from  the 
ships  to  the  surf-boats  (sixty-five  in  number),  I  directed 
the  steamers  Spitfire  and  Vixen,  and  the  five  gun-boats, 
to  form  a  line  parallel  with  and  close  in  to  the  beach, 
to  cover  the  landing.  This  order  was  promptly  exe 
cuted,  and  these  small  vessels,  fr(3m  the  lightness  of 
their  draught,  were  enabled  to  take  positions  within 
good  grape-range  of  the  shore.  As  the  boats  severally 
received  their  compliments  of  troops,  they  assembled  in 
a  line,  abreast,  between  the  fleet  and  the  gun-boats; 
and  when  all  were  ready,  they  pulled  in  together,  under 
the  guidance  of  a  number  of  officers  of  the  squadron, 
who  had  been  detailed  for  this  purpose.  General 
Worth  commanded  this,  the  first  line  of  the  army,  and 
had  the  satisfaction  of  forming  his  command  on  the 
beach  and  neighbouring  heights  just  before  sunset. 
Four  thousand  five  hundred  men  were  thus  thrown  on 
shore,  almost  simultaneously.  No  enemy  appeared  to 
offer  us  the  slightest  opposition.  The  first  line  being 
landed,  the  boats  in  successive  trips  relieved  the  men- 
of-war  and  transports  of  the  remaining  troops,  by  ten 
o'clock  P.  M.  The  whole  army  (save  a  few  straggling 
companies,)  consisting  of  upwards  of  10,000  men,  were 
thus  safely  deposited  on  shore,  without  the  slightest 
accident  of  any  kind. 

"The  officers  and  seamen  under  my  command  vied 
with  each  other  on  this  occasion,  in  a  zealous  and  ener 
getic  performance  of  their  duty.  I  cannot  but  express 
to  the  department  the  great  satisfaction  I  have  derived 
from  witnessing  their  efforts  to  contribute  all  in  their 


294  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

power  to  the  success  of  their  more  fortunate  brethren  of 
the  army.  The  weather  still  continuing  fine,  to-day  we 
are  engaged  in  landing  the  artillery,  horses,  provisions, 
and  other  material.  The  steamer  New  Orleans,  with 
the  Louisiana  regiment  of  volunteers,  800  strong,  arrived 
most  opportunely  at  Anton  Lizardo,  just  as  we  had  put 
ourselves  in  motion.  She  joined  us,  and  her  troops 
were  landed  with  the  rest.  Another  transport  arrived 
at  this  anchorage  to- day.  Her  troops  have  also  been 
landed. 

"  General  Scott  has  now  with  him  upwards  of 
11,000  men.  At  his  request,  I  permitted  the  marines 
of  the  squadron,  under  Captain  Edson,  to  join  him,  as 
a  part  of  the  3d  regiment  of  artillery.  The  general- 
in-chief  landed  this  morning,  and  the  army  put  itself 
in  motion  at  an  early  hour,  to  form  its  lines  around  the 
city.  There  has  been  some  distant  firing  of  shot  and 
shells  from  the  town  and  castle  upon  the  troops,  as 
they  advanced,  but  without  result.  I  am  still  of  the 
opinion,  expressed  in  my  previous  communications,  as 
to  the  inability  of  the  enemy  to  hold  out  for  any  length 
of  time.  The  castle  has,  at  most,  but  four  or  five 
weeks'  provisions,  and  the  town  about  enough  to  last 
for  the  same  time." 

The  following  vivid  descriptions  are  from  the  pensvof 
different  persons  who  witnessed  the  landing  of  the 
besieging  army  from  the  shore.  The  first  is  from  the 
correspondent  of  the  New  Orleans  Picayune. 

"  It  would  take  a  page  of  our  paper  to  give  full  effect 
to  a  description  of  the  first  landing  of  our  troops  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  9th — a  more  stirring  spectacle  has 
probably  never  been  witnessed  in  America.  In  the  first 
line  there  were  no  less  than  seventy  heavy  surf-boats. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  295 

containing  nearly  4000  regulars,  and  all  of  them  expected 
to  meet  an  enemy  before  they  struck  the  shore. 

"  Not  withstanding_  this,  every  man  was  anxious  to  be 
first — they  plunged  into  the  water  waist-deep  as  they 
reached  the  shore — the  "stars  and  stripes"  were 
instantly  floating — a  rush  was  made  for  the  sand-hills, 
and  amid  loud  shouts  they  pressed  onward.  Three  long 
and  loud  cheers  rose  from  their  comrades  still  on  board, 
awaiting  to  be  embarked,  and  meanwhile  the  tops  and 
every  portion  of  the  foreign  vessels  were  crowded  with 
spectators  of  the  scene.  Not  one  who  witnessed  it  will 
ever  forget  the  landing.  Why  the  Mexicans  did  not 
oppose  us  is  a  greater  mystery  than  ever,  considering 
their  great  advantages  at  the  time,,  and  that  they  have 
since  opposed  every  step  of  our  advance." 

A  correspondent  of  the  Weekly  Herald  writes  as 
follows : 

CAMP  or  THE  BESIEGING  ARMY,      j 
five  miles  below  Vcra  Cruz,  March  9,  1847.  i 

I  arrived  at  Anton  Lizardo  to-day  about  twelve 
o'clock,  in,  the  steamship  New  Orleans,  which  came  to 
at  the  anchorage  among  the  fleet.  Immediately  after 
the  steamship's  anchoring,  the  Massachusetts  sailed  by 
us,  when  General  Scott  appeared  in  the  shrouds  of  the 
vessel,  and  inquired  for  General  Quitman.  As  soon  as 
the  general  responded  to  the  call,  General  Scott  remark 
ed — "  General  Quitman,  we  are  to  land  in  the  enemy's 
country.  What  is  your  force  on  board,  and  the  condition 
of  your  men  ?"  General  Quitman  replied — «  Six  hun 
dred  and  fifty,  and  in  good  condition."  «  Your  position, 
sir,  will  be  in  the  second  line,  under  the  command  of 
General  Patterson."  Shortly  afterwards  General  Jessup 
visited  General  Patterson  and  tendered  his  personal 

1  Q 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

services  and  those  of  his  staff,  which  were  accepted; 
and  they  are  now  on  shore,  «  all  ready,"  if  circum 
stances  require. 

Purser  Thomas  B.  Nalle,  of  the  navy,  attached  to  the 
frigate  Potomac,  who  came  passenger  in  the  steamship 
New  Orleans,  finding  it  impracticable  to  join  the  ship, 
has  volunteered  his  services  to  General  Shields,  has 
been  accepted  as  his  aid,  and  is  now  acting  in  that 
capacity. . 

At  eleven  o'clock  the  fleet  set  sail  for  Sacrificios,  the 
Princeton  leading,  with  the  Raritan  in  tow.  Atone  o'clock, 
the  steamer  Vixen,  with  five  gun-boats,  took  a  survey  of 
the  coast  and  anchored  off  the  shore  opposite  the  point, 
when  the  troops  landed. 

The  first  and  second,  and  part  of  the  third,  lines  are 
now  safely  landed  on  the  beach  about  five  miles  below 
the  city  of  Vera  Cruz,  contrary  to  all  expectation,  with 
out  any  resistance.  The  first  line,  composed  of  the  2d 
and  3d  artillery,  and  4th,  5th,  6th,  and  8th  infantry  ;  Cap 
tain  Blanchard's  company  Louisiana  volunteers  (attached 
to  5th  infantry) ;  and  Captain  Williams's  company  Ken 
tucky  volunteers  (attached  to  6th  infantry),  under  com 
mand  of  General  Worth,  disembarked  on  board  the 
barges  between  Sacrificios  and  the  main  land  between 
two  and  three  o'clock,  P.  M. ,  and  formed  in  line  on  the  4th 
infantry,  preparatory  to  their  departure  for  the  shore.  At 
a  signal  gun  from  the  Massachusetts,  at  four  o'clock,  the 
first  line  "  gave  way"  on  their  oars  and  pulled  heartily 
for  the  landing.  This,  with  the  sailing  of  the  fleet  from 
Anton  Lizardo,  was  decidedly  the  most  magnificent  view 
ever  presented  to  the  eye  of  an  American  citizen.  I 
have  a  perspective  draught  of  it,  which  I  will  send  you, 
with  a  general  account  of  the  battle. 

The  second  line,  under  General  Patterson,  composed 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  297 

of  General  Quitman's,  General  Shields's,  and  General 
Pillow's  brigades,  with  some  artillery,  landed  directly 
afterwards,  and  General  Twiggs's,  the  reserve  line,  made 
up  of.  the  1st  and  4th  artillery,  mounted  rifles,  1st,  2d, 
3d,  and  7th  infantry,  are  now  landing,  and  before  day 
light  will  probably  be  on  the  beach,  as  also  a  battery  of 
heavy  artillery,  under  Captain  Taylor.  The  mountain 
rocket  and  howitzer  company  have  their  battery  planted. 
All  the  troops  that  have  yet  landed  are  formed  in  line  of 
battle,  and  will  rest  on  their  arms  during  the  night. 

Notwithstanding  we  have  noyr  about  6000  troops  on 
shore,  not  a  single  whisper  can  be  heard  along  the  whole 
extent  of  the  line — all  are  listening  for  the  first  signal  of 
alarm.  If  the  enemy  should  visit  us  before  daylight, 
they  will  find  us  ready  to  give  them  a  warm  reception. 

During  the  landing  of  the  troops  to-day,  I  was  much 
pleased  to  see  Commodore  Conner  in  his  small  boat, 
superintending  in  person  the  landing  of  the  troops, 

CAMP  OF  THE  BESIEGING  ARMY,      j 
March  Wth,  1847.  j 

At  two  o'clock  this  morning,  the  camp  was  aroused  by  a 
brisk  fire  from  the  enemy,  and  the  balls  came  whistling 
through,  "  as  thick  as  hail,"  breaking  one  man's  thigh, 
and  wounding  two  others.  Instead  of  "  beating  the  long 
roll,"  as  usual  in  cases  of  alarm,  a  small  detachment, 
under  Captain  Gordon,  was  sent  out  to  reconnoitre.  He 
had  not  proceeded  over  two  or  three  hundred  yards, 
when  he  found  his  command  in  the  close  vicinity  of  a 
body  of  men.  He  hailed  them,  and  they  answered  him 
in  English,  but  the  captain  not  admiring  their  accent, 
withdrew  his  small  force  a  short  distance,  and  again 
hailed,  when  he  was  answered  with  a  volley  of  musketry 
from  their  whole  bodv,  which  was  returned  by  the  de- 


298  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

tachment,  and  had  the  effect  of  compelling  the  Mexicans 
to  retire  towards  the  town.  "Nothing  but  the  sagacity  of 
an  experienced  and  able  officer  prevented  the  capture 
or  destruction  of  the  whole  reconnoitering  detachment. 

The  steamer  Spitfire,  Captain  Tatnall,  at  sunrise  took 
position  in  front  of  the  castle  and  town,  and  commenced 
a  fire,  by  way  of  "  opening  the  ball,"  which  she  con 
tinued  for  about  an  hour,  and  which  was  returned  by 
the  castle  and  city. 

Shortly  after  the  Spitfire  commenced  firing,  the  1st 
and  2d  divisions  moved  in  a  column  up  the  beach 
towards  the  city,  about  a  mile,  and  proceeded  to  invest 
the  place.  A  Mexican  force  of  cavalry  and  infantry, 
numbering  perhaps  four  or  five  regiments  in  all,  showed 
themselves  on  the  sand  heights  towards  the  city,  at  the 
distance  of  half  a  mile  from  our  advance,  and  com 
menced,  firing  musketry.  One  of  the  mountain  howitzers 
and  rockets  were  placed  on  the  hills,  and  fired  a  few 
shots  and  sent  a  few  rockets  whizzing  through  the  air, 
without  any  effect.  The  Mexicans  appeared  to  be  a 
little  shy  of  them  at  first,  but  soon  recommenced  spread 
ing  their  line  along  the  hill,  and  firing  their  muskets. 
Captain  Taylor  was  then  ordered  to  try  their  mettle 
with  a  six-pounder,  which  had  not  been  fired  but  a  few 
times  before  they  withdrew  behind  the  hill,  and  left  for 
some  place  secure  from  danger.  In  this  firing,  there 
was  one  Mexican  killed. 

General  Worth  succeeded  in  taking  his  position  on  the 
right  of  the  line  of  investment  by  eleven  o'clock.  The 
line  circumvallating  the  city,  when  completed,  will  run 

along  a  chain  of  sand  hills  about  three  miles  from  the 

& 

city,  ranging  from  three  hundred  to  fifteen  hundred  feet 
high,  and  completely  overlooking  and  commanding  the 
town  and  fortifications,  but  the  heavy  guns  from  the 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOT  1 .  301 

castle  can  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  right  wing  of 
the  line,  where  no  doubt  the  quarters  will  be  very  hot. 

As  soon  as  General  Worth  had  occupied  his  ground, 
General  Patterson's  division  took  up  its  march,  with 
General  Pillow's  brigade  in  advance,  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  oh  the  left  of  General  Worth.  The  advance, 
however,  did  not  proceed  over  a  mile  before  they  be 
came  engaged  with  the  enemy  in  a  thick  cluster  of 
chapparal.  A  rapid  fire  immediately  ensued,  whicl 
lasted  about  twenty  minutes.  The  Mexicans  retreated, 
and  no  loss  on  either  side,  that  I  could  ascertain  posi 
tively  ;  though  I  have  heard  it  repeatedly  this  evening 
that  five  dead  Mexicans  had  been  found. 

General  PillowT  again  commenced  extending  the  line, 
but  owning  to  the  great  difficulty  and  labour  of  cutting  a 
road  in  the  chapparal,  through  which  he  had  to  pass,  he 
had  not  proceeded  more  than  half  a  mile  up  to  four 
o'clock  P.  M.,  when  he  again  came  in  contact  with  the 
enemy,  who  were  in  ambuscade.  The  firing  was  so 
heavy,  and  appeared  so  to  increase,  that  General  Pat 
terson  despatched  the  New  York  regiment,  of  General 
Shields's  brigade,  to  the  assistance  of  General  Pillow — 
but  only  one  company  of  the  New  Yorkers  arrived  at 
the  point  of  attack,  before  General  Pillow  had  routed 
the  enemy  by  a  charge.  In  this  engagement,  two  of 
the  1st  Pennsylvanians  were  slightly  wounded,  viz. :  M. 
Crann,  of  company  C,  and  T.  Tice,  of  company  F. 

A  body  of  Mexicans  was  shortly  afterwards  dis 
covered,  through  a  glass,  on  the  left  flank  of  General 
Pillow's  command,  at  a  house  known  as  a  magazine, 
and  I  expect  it  has  been  occupied  as  such.  A  six- 
pounder  was  brought  to  bear  on  it  from  one  of  the 
heights  in  our  possession,  which  caused  them  to  leave 
without  ceremony. 


302  IKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

Towards  sundown  General  Pillow's  brigade,  very 
unexpectedly,  succeeded  in  reaching  one  of  the  highest 
points  in  the  rear  of  the  city,  and  planting  the  "  Stars 
and  Stripes,"  which  they  greeted,  as  one  of  the  Tennes- 
seans  said— with  "  three  of  the  biggest  kind  of  cheers." 

The  batteries  from  town  and  castle  kept  throwing 
thirteen-inch  shells,  and  twenty-four-pound  round  shot, 
at  the  entire  line,  until  dark.  One  of  them  exploded  im 
mediately  in  front  of  General  Worth  and  staif,  and  a 
portion  of  it  passed  through  Captain  Blanchardjs  com 
pany,  but  fortunately  without  injuring  any  one. 

General  Quitman's  brigade,  now  moved  forward  and 
encamped  on  the  right  of  General  Pillow. 

CAMP  OF  THE  BESIEGING  ARMY,      } 
three  miles  iii  rear  of  city,  March  llth:  1847.  \ 

This  morning,  shortly  after  daylight,  the  batteries 
from  the  castle  and  the  town  opened  on  our  lines,  and 
continued  with  short  intervals  throughout  the  day.  I 
sincerely  regret  to  announce  that  among  our  losses  to 
day,  is  the  death  of  Captain  William  Alburtis,  of  the  2d 
infantry.  His  head  was  shot  off  with  a  twenty-four- 
pound  shot  from  the  city,  while  marching  with  the  regi 
ment  to  join  General  Twiggs,  at  the  north  end.  Cap 
tain  Alburtis  was  a  printer,  and  former  editor  of  the 
Virginia  Republican,  at  Martinsburg,  Va.  There  was 
also  killed  by  the  cannonade,  Private  Cunningham,  of 
company  A,  mounted  rifles,  and  a  drummer  boy  of 
company  B,  2d  artillery,  had  his  arm  shot  off. 

About  seven  o'clock  this  morning,  General  Quitman's 
brigade  was  ordered  to  relieve  General  Pillow  from  the 
position  he  had  occupied  during  the  night,  in  order  that 
his  troops  might  get  their  breakfast,  and  procure  water 
to  last  during  the  day.  The  Mexicans  saw  our  party 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  303 

leaving  the  height,  but  did  not  see  the  other  coming  up 
with  their  cavalry,  expecting,  no  doubt,  to  steal  upon 
their  rear,  but  they  were  very  much  mistaken.  Gen 
eral  Quitman  advanced  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  a 
rapid  fire  at  long  shots  was  kept  up  for  about  an  hour. 
Captain  Davis,  of  the  Georgia  regiment,  with  twenty 
riflemen,  were  sent  as  skirmishers,  to  incline  round 
under  the  hill  and  engage  them  at  close  quarters.  As 
soon  as  they  observed  Captain  Davis  about  200  ad 
vanced  on  him,  but  with  his  small  force  he  held  them  in 
check  until  Colonel  Jackson,  with  the  balance  of  three 
companies,  and  Colonel  Dickenson,  writh  his  regiment, 
came  to  his  assistance,  when  the  enemy  were  compelled 
to  retreat  under  the  cover  of  the  guns  of  the  town,  writh 
the  loss  of  several  dead  and  some  wounded.  Our  loss 
in  this  affair  this  morning,  is  seven  slightly  wounded. 

The  column  of  General  Twiggs  moved  up  this  morn 
ing,  with  the  mounted  rifles  in  advance,  at  nine  o'clock, 
to  take  position  on  the  left  of  the  line.  The  under 
taking  was  a  most  arduous  one,  but  with  General 
Twiggs  there  is  "  no  such  word  as  fail."  When  his 
cannon  could  not  be  hauled  by  horses  they  were  pulled 
and  lifted  by  his  men,  and  they  were  taken  up  and  over 
sand  ridges  that  I  should  think  it  utterly  impossible  and 
beyond  the  physical  strength  of  men  to  surmount.  The 
advance  of  this  column  arrived  at  their  destination  on 
the  sea-shore  above  the  town  about  two  o'clock,  and 
the  rear  closed  up  at  sundown. 

This  entirely,  now,  circumscribes  the  place,  and  the 
entire  line  investing  occupies  a  space  of  ground  about 
eight  miles  in  length.  As  the  troops  lay  stretched  along 
the  hills  and  valleys,  with  the  stars  and  stripes  dotted 
here  and  there,  fluttering  in  the  breeze,  they  present  to 
the  view  a  majestic  and  sublime  appearance.  The 


304  SKETCH  OF    THE  LIFE  OF 

enemy  are  now  completely  within  our  grasp,  and 
whether  they  can  rend  asunder  the  chains  that  bind 
them  to  the  confined  limits  of  the  walls  of  the  city  and 
castle,  remains  to  be  seen.  General  Worth  occupies  the 
right,  General  Twiggs  the  left,  and  General  Patterson 
the  centre.  If  either  of  these  officers  can  be  moved 
from  their  positions  one  foot  by  any  force  that  can  be 
brought  against  them,  I  am  very  much  mistaken.  Hav 
ing  our  position,  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  days,  the 
mortars  and  heavy  cannon  wrill  be  planted  on  the  heights, 
when  the  enemy  will  have  an  opportunity  of  witnessing 
the  effects  of  our  shot  upon  their  city. 

I  was  informed  at  a  late  hour  last  night  that  Colonel 
Persifor  F.  Smith,  with  his  rifles,  has  had  a  very  pretty 
fight  with  a  force  of  about  800  from  the  city,  and  com 
pelled  them  to  retire  in  quick  time,  with  a  loss  of  about 
twenty-five  killed  and  several  wounded,  and  sustaining 
a  loss  of  two  or  three  privates  killed  and  wounded. 

I  have  made  diligent  inquiry  into  the  health  of  the 
army  to-day,  and  the  surgeons  state  that  they  never 
knew  the  army  to  be  in  better  health  and  condition,  and 
no  evidence  of  anything  like  vomito. 

From  the  Correspondence  of  Tropic. 

OFF  VERA  CRUZ,  March  13^5  1847. 
-  *  *  *  Nothing  has  been  more  remarkable 
in  this  campaign  than  the  quietness  with  which  the 
troops  were  permitted  to  land.  I  have  the  assurance 
of  officers,  whose  experience  qualifies  them  to  judge, 
that  three  pieces  of  cannon,  judiciously  planted,  and 
masked  by  the  small  eminence  which  overhangs  the 
point  of  landing,  would  have  produced  terrible  havoc 
amongst  our  troops.  I  believe  that  three  pieces,  so 
planted  and  masked,  and  served  with  grape  and  canister- 

' 


rm  r  mpn 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  305 

du  combat,  before  they  could  have  reached  the  position 
which  they  were  permitted  to  take  unmolested.  They 
could  have  spiked  their  guns  upon  our  advance,  and 
retired  in  perfect  safety.  To  what  are  we  to  attribute 
this  supineness  ?  I  cannot  guess.  General  Scott  may 
have  deceived  them  somewhat  by  his  reconnoissances  of 
the  6th  instant,  in  which  he  examined  the  coast  to  the 
northward,  as  well  as  to  the  southward  of  the  city  ;  but 
this  will  not  account  for  the  matter,  as  half  a  dozen 
guns  upon  each  side  of  the  city  could  form  a  considera 
tion  of  trifling  importance  to  them  in  the  way  of  de 
fence.  But  so  it  was. 

The  summary  of  events,  from  the  disembarkation  to 
the  surrender,  is  thus  given  by  Colonel  Totten : 

March  9,  1847. — The  disembarkation  commenced. 

March  13,  1847. — The  investment  is  complete — two 
mortars  landed. 

March  17,  1847.— Ten  or  twelve  mortars  were  on 
shore  to-day. 

March  18,  1847. — Trenches  opened  at  night. 

March  22,  1847.— City  summoned  at  two  P.  M.,  to 
surrender ;  and,  on  refusal,  the  fire  was  begun  fron  seven 
mortars — afterwards  increased  to  nine  mortars. 

March  24,  1847. — The  naval  battery  of  three  thirty- 
two  pounders  and  three  eight-inch  paixhan  guns  began 
its  fire  this  morning. 

March  25,  1847.— A  battery  of  four  twenty-four 
pounders  and  two  eight-inch  howitzers  opened  to  day. 

March  26,  1847. — The  enemy,  early  this  morning, 
commenced  the  negotiation  for  a  surrender. 

March  29,  1847. — Possession  taken  of  both  city  and 
castle — the  garrisons  marching  out  and  laying  down 
their  arms. 


306  v  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

The  trenches  were  open  seven  days. 

The  fire  from  our  batteries  was  continued  three  and 
a  half  days. 

During  the  sixteen  days  that  intervened  between  the 
disembarkation  of  the  troops  and  the  opening  of  nego- 
^iations,  there  were  five  days  of  violent  "  northers,"  in 
which  all  landing  of  stores,  &c.,  was  interrupted.  And, 
during  the  seven  days  of  open  trenches,  there  \vere  two 
days  and  nights,  in  which  it  \vas  impossible  to  undertake 
any  new  works ;  or  even,  by  clearing  the  trenches  and 
batteries  of  large  quantities  of  drifting  sand,  to  arrest 
the  accumulating  damage. 

The  official  despatches  of  General  Scott  which  fol 
low,  fill  up  the  above  outline  in  the  most  satisfactory 
manner,  not  only  by  a  clear  military  detail  of  proceed 
ings  ;  but  by  the  circumstance  of  his  awarding  praise 
where  it  is  due,  to  the  gallant  officers  of  the  army. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY,  CAMP  WASHINGTON,      ) 
before  Vera  Cruz,  March  23,  1847.  j 

SIR  :  Yesterday,  seven  of  our  ten-inch  mortars  being 
in  battery,  and  the  labours  for  planting  the  remainder  of 
our  heavy  metal  being  in  progress,  I  addressed,  at  two 
o'clock  P.  M.,  a  summons  to  the  governor  of  Vera 
Cruz,  and  within  the  two  hours  limited  by  the  bearer 
of  the  flag,  received  the  governor's  answer.  Copies  of 
the  two  papers,  (marked  respectively,  A  and  B,)  are 
herewith  enclosed. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  the  governor,  who  it  turns 
out  is  the  commander  of  both  places,  chose,  against  the 
plain  terms  of  the  summons,  to  suppose  me  to  have  de 
manded  the  surrender  of  the  castle  and  of  the  city— 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  307 

when,  in  fact,  from  the  non-arrival  of  our  heavy  metal 
— principally  mortars — I  was  in  no  condition  to  threaten 
the  former. 

On  the  return  of  the  flag,  with  that  reply,  I  at  once 
ordered  the  seven  mortars,  in  battery,  to  open  upon 
the  city.  In  a  short  time  the  smaller  vessels  of 
Commodore"  Perry's  squadron — two  steamers  and  five 
schooners — according  to  previous  arrangement  with  him, 
approached  the  city  within  about  a  mile  and  an  eighth, 
whence,  being  partially  covered  from  the  castle — an 
essential  condition  to  their  safety — they  also  opened  a 
brisk  fire  upon  the  city.  This  has  been  continued,  unin 
terruptedly,  by  the  mortars,  only  with  a  few  intermis 
sions,  by  the  vessels,  up  to  nine  o'clock  this  morning, 
when  the  commodore,  very  properly,  called  them  off  a 
position  too  daringly  assumed. 

Our  three  remaining  mortars  are  now  (twelve  o'clock, 
M.)  in  battery,  and  the  whole  ten  in  activity.  To 
morrow,  early,  if  the  city  should  continue  obstinate, 
batteries  Nos.  4,  and  5,  will  be  ready  to  add  their 
fire :  No.  4,  consisting  of  four  twenty-four  pounders  and 
two  eight-inch  Paixhan  guns,  and  No.  O  (naval  battery), 
of  three  thirty-two  pounders  and  three  eight-inch  Paix- 
hans — the  guns,  officers,  and  sailors  landed  from  the 
squadron — our  friends  of  the  navy  being  unremitting 
in  their  zealous  co-operation,  in  every  mode  and  form. 

So  far,  we  know  that  our  fire  upon  the  city  has  been 
highly  effective — particularly  from  the  batteries  of  ten- 
inch  mortars,  planted  at  about  800  yards  from  the  city. 
Including  the  preparation  and  defence  of  the  batteries, 
from  the  beginning — now  many  days — and  notwith 
standing  the  heavy  fire  of  the  enemy  from  city  and 
castle — we  have  only  had  four  or  five  men  wounded,  and 
one  officer  and  one  man  killed,  in  or  near  the  trenches. 


308  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

That  officer  was  Captain  John  R.  Vinton,  of  the  United 
States  3d  artillery,  one  of  the  most  talented,  accom 
plished,  and  effective  members  of  the  army,  and  who 
was  highly  distinguished  in  the  brilliant  operations  at 
Monterey.  He  fell,  last  evening,  in  the  trenches,  where 
he  was  on  duty  as  field  and  commanding  officer,  uni 
versally  regretted.  I  have  just  attended  his  honoured 
remains  to  a  soldier's  grave — in  full  view  of  the  enemy 
and  within  reach  of  his  guns. 

Thirteen  of  the  long-needed  mortars — leaving  twenty- 
seven,  besides  heavy  guns,  behind — have  arrived,  and 
two  of  them  landed.  A  heavy  norther  then  set  in  (at 
meridian)  that  stopped  that  operation,  and  also  the  land 
ing  of  shells.  Hence  the  fire  of  our  mortar  batteries  has 
been  slackened,  since  two  o'clock,  to-day,  and  cannot 
be  reinvigorated  until  we  shall  again  have  a  smooth  sea. 
In  the  mean  time  I  shall  leave  this  report  open  for 
journalizing  events  that  may  occur  up  to  the  departure 
of  the  steam  ship-of-war,  Princeton,  with  Commodore 
Conner,  who,  I  learn,  expects  to  leave  the  anchorage 
off  Sacrificios,  for  the  United  States,  the  25th  instant. 

March  24. — The  storm  having  subsided  in  the  night, 
we  commenced  this  forenoon,  as  soon  as  the  sea  became 
a  little  smooth,  to  land  shot,  shells,  and  mortars. 

The  naval  battery,  No.  5,  was  opened,  with  great 
activity,  under  Captain  Aulick,  the  second  in  rank 
of  the  squadron,  at  about  ten  A.  M.  His  fire  was 
continued  to  two  o'clock  P.  M.,  a  little  before  he  was 
relieved  by  Captain  Mayo,  who  landed  with  a  fresh 
supply  of  ammunition — Captain  A.  having  exhausted  the 
supply  he  had  brought  with  him.  He  lost  four  sailors, 
killed,  and  had  one  officer,  Lieutenant  Baldwin,  slightly 
hurt. 

The  mortar  batteries,  Nos.  1,  2,  and  3,  have  fired 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  309 

but  languidly  during  the  day,  for  the  want  of  shells, 
which  are  now  going  out  from  the  beach. 

The  two  reports  of  Colonel  Bankhead,  chief  of  artil 
lery,  both  of  this  date,  copies  of  which  I  enclose,  give 
the  incidents  of  those  three  batteries. 

Battery  No.  4,  which  will  mount  four  twenty-four 
pounders  and  twTo  eight-inch  Paixhan  guns,  has 
been  much  delayed  in  the  hands  of  the  indefatigable 
engineers  by  the  norther,  that  filled  up  the  work  with 
sand  nearly  as  fast  as  it  could  be  opened  by  the  half- 
blinded  labourers.  It  will,  however,  doubtless  be  in  full 
activity  early  to-morrow  morning. 

March  25. — The  Princeton  being  about  to  start  for 
Philadelphia,  I  have  but  a  moment  to  continue  this  re 
port. 

All  the  batteries,  Nos.  1,  2,  3,^4,  and  5,  are  in  awful 
activity  this  morning.  The  effect  is,  no  doubt,  very 
great,  and  I  think  the  city  cannot  hold  out  beyond 
to-day.  To-morrow  morning  many  of  the  new  mortars 
will  be  in  a  position  to  add  their  fire,  when,  or  after  the 
delay  of  some  twelve  hours,  if  no  proposition  to  sur 
render  should  be  received,  I  shall  organize  parties  for 
carrying  the  city  by  assault.  So  far  the  defence  has 
been  spirited  and  obstinate. 

I  enclose  a  copy  of  a  memorial  received  last  night, 
signed  by  the  consuls  of  Great  Britain,  France,  Spain, 
and  Prussia,  within  Vera  Cruz,  asking  me  to  grant  a 
truce  to  enable  the  neutrals,  together  with  Mexican 
women  and  children,  to  withdraw  from  the  scene  of 
havoc  about  them.  I  shall  reply,  the  moment  that  an 
opportunity  may  be  taken,  to  say — First.  That  a  truce 
can  only  be  granted  on  the  application  of  Governor 
Morales,  with  a  view  to  a  surrender ;  Second.  That  in 
sending  safeguards  to  the  different  consuls,  beginning 


310  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

as  far  back  as  the  13th  instant,  I  distinctly  admonished 
them,  particularly  the  French  and  Spanish  consuls — 
and,  of  course,  through  the  two,  the  other  consuls — of 
the  dangers  that  have  followed ;  Third.  That  although, 
at  that  date,  I  had  already  refused  to  allow  any  person 
whatsoever  to  pass  the  line  of  investment  either  way, 
yet  the  blockade  had  been  left  open  to  the  consuls  and 
other  neutrals  to  pass  out  to  their  respective  ships  of 
war  up  to  the  22d  instant ;  and,  Fourth.  I  shall  enclose 
to  the  memorialists  a  copy  of  my  summons  to  the  go 
vernor,  to  show  that  I  had  fully  considered  the  impend 
ing  hardships  and  distresses  of  the  place,  including  those 
of  women  and  children,  before  one  gun  had  been  fired 
in  that  direction.  The  intercourse  between  the  neutral 
ships-of-war  and  the  city  was  stopped  at  the  last-men 
tioned  date  by  Commodore  Perry,  with  my  concurrence, 
which  I  placed  on  the  ground  that  that  intercourse 
could  not  fail  to  give  to  the  enemy  moral  aid  and  com 
fort. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  memorial,  that  our  batteries 
have  already  had  a  terrible  effect  on  the  city  (also 
known  through  other  sources),  and  hence  the  inference 
that  a  surrender  must  soon  be  proposed.  In  haste, 

I  have  the  honour  to  remain,  sir,  with  high  respect, 
your  most  obedient  servant, 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 

Hon.  WILLIAM  L.  MARCY,  Secretary  of  War. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  or  THE  ARMY.      \ 
Vera  Cruz,  March  29,  1847.  ) 

SIR:  The  flag  of  the  United  States  of  America  floats 
triumphantly  over  the  walls  of  this  city,  and  the  castle 
of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  311 

Our  troops  have  garrisoned  both  since  ten  o'clock. 
It  is  now  noon.  Brigadier- General  Worth  is  in  com 
mand  of  the  two  places. 

Articles  of  capitulation  were  signed  and  exchanged  at 
a  late  hour  night  before  the  last.  I  enclose  a  copy  of 

the  document.        jS^eroff  J  ^fV*»$ 

I  have  heretofore  reported  the  principal  incidents  of 
the  siege,  up  to  the  25th  instant.  Nothing  of  striking 
interest  occurred,  until  early  in  the  morning  of  the  next 
day,  when  I  received  overtures  from  General  Landero, 
on  whom  General  Morales  has  devolved  the  principal 
command.  A  terrible  storm  of  wind  and  sand  made  it 
difficult  to  communicate  with  the  city,  and  impossible  to 
refer  to  Commodore  Perry.  I  was  obliged  to  entertain 
the  proposition  alone,  or  to  continue  the  fire  upon  a 
place  that  had  shown  a  disposition  to  surrender ;  for  the 
loss  of  a  day,  or  perhaps  several,  could  not  be  permitted. 
The  accompanying  papers  will  show  the  proceedings, 
and  results. 

Yesterday,  after  the  norther  had  abated,  and  the  com 
missioners  appointed  by  me  early  the  morning  before., 
had  again  met  those  appointed  by  General  Landero 
Commodore  Perry  sent  ashore  his  second  in  command, 
Captain  Aulick,  as  a  commissioner  on  the  part  of  the 
navy.  Although  not  included  in  my  specific  arrange 
ment  made  with  the  Mexican  commander,  I  did  nof 
hesitate,  with  proper  courtesy,  to  desire  that  Captain 
Aulick  might  be  duly  introduced  and  allowed  to  parti 
cipate  in  the  discussions  and  acts  of  the  commissioners 
who  had  been  reciprocally  accredited.  Hence  the  pre 
amble  to  his  signature.  The  original  A.merican  com 
missioners  were,  Brevet  Brigadier-General  Worth,  Bri 
gadier-General  Pillow,  and  Colonel  Totten.  Four  more 
able  or  judicious  officers  could  not  have  been  desired, 
20 


312  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

I  have  time  to  add  but  little  more.  The  remaining 
details  of  the  siege ;  the  able  co-operation  of  the  Uni 
ted  States  squadron,  successively  under  the  command 
of  Commodores  Conner  and  Perry  ;  the  admirable  con 
duct  of  the  whole  army — regulars  and  volunteers — I 
should  be  happy  to  dwell  upon  as  they  deserve ;  but  the 
steamer  Princeton,  with  Commodore  Conner  on  board, 
is  under  way,  and  I  have  commenced  organizing  an 
advance  into  the  interior.  This  may  be  delayed  a  few 
days,  waiting  the  arrival  of  additional  means  of  trans 
portation.  In  the  mean  time,  a  joint  operation,  by  land 
and  water,  will  be  made  upon  Alvarado.  No  laternal 
expedition,  however,  shall  interfere  with  the  grand 
movement  towards  the  capital. 

In  consideration  of  the  great  services  of  Colonel 
Totten,  in  the  siege  that  has  just  terminated  most  suc 
cessfully,  and  the  importance  of  his  presence  at  Wash- 
.ngton,  as  the  head  of  the  engineer  bureau,  I  intrust  this 
despatch  to  his  personal  care,  and  beg  to  commend  him 
to  the  very  favourable  consideration  of  the  department. 

I  have  the  honour  to  remain,  sir,  with  high  respect, 
your  most  obedient  servant, 

WINFIELD  SCOTT. 
Hon.  W.  L.  MARCY,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  following  were  the  terms  of  surrender,  finally 
agreed  upon  by  Generals  Worth  and  Pillow,  and  Colonel 
Totten,  on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  and  Villannuera, 
Herrera,  and  Robles,  on  the  part  of  the  Mexicans. 

1.  The  whole  garrison,  or  garrisons,  to  be  surren 
dered  to  the  arms  of  the  United  States,  as  prisoners  of 
war,  the  29th  instant,  at  ten  o'clock  A.M.;  the  garri 
sons  to  be  permitted  to  march  out  with  all  the  honours 
of  war,  and  to  lay  down  their  arms  to  such  officers  as 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  313 

may  be  appointed  by  the  general-in-chief  of  the  United 
States  armies,  and  at  a  point  to  be  agreed  upon  by  the 
commissioners. 

2.  Mexican  officers   shall  preserve   their   arms   and 
private  effects,  including  horses  and  horse  furniture,  and 
to  be  allowed,  regular  and  irregular  officers,  as  also  the 
rank  |  and  file,  five  days  to  retire  to  their  respective 
homes,  on  parole,  as  hereinafter  prescribed. 

3.  Coincident  with  the  surrender,   as   stipulated   in 
article  1,  the  Mexican  flags  of  the   various  forts  and 
stations  shall  be  struck,  saluted  by  their  own  batteries  ; 
and,  immediately  thereafter,  Forts  Santiago  and  Con 
ception,  and  the  castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa,  occupied 
by  the  forces  of  the  United  States. 

4.  The  rank  and  file  of  the  regular  portion  of  the 
prisoners  to  be  disposed  of  after  surrender  and  parole, 
as  their  general-in-chief  may  desire,  and  the  irregular  to 
be  permitted  to  return  to  their  homes.     The  officers,  in 
respect  to  all  arms  and  descriptions  of  force,  giving  the 
usual  parole,  that  the  said  rank  and  file,  as  well .  as 
themselves,  shall  not  serve  again  until  duly  exchanged. 

5.  All  the  material  of  war,  and  all  public  property  of 
every  description  found  in  the  city,  the  castle  of  San 
Juan  de  Ulloa  and  their  dependencies,  to  belong  to  the 
United  States  ;    but  the  armament  of  the  same  (not 
injured  or  destroyed  in  the  further  prosecution  of  the 
actual  war)  may  be  considered  as  liable  to  be  restored 
to  Mexico  by  a  definite  treaty  of  peace. 

6.  The  sick  and  wounded  Mexicans  to  be  allowed  to 
.  remain  in  the  city,  with  such  medical  officers  and  attend 
ants,  and  officers  of  the  army  as  may  be  necessary  to 
their  care  and  treatment. 

7.  Absolute   protection    is  solemnly  guarantied    to 
persons  in  the  city,  and  property,  and  it  is  clearly  under 
go 


314  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

stood  that  no  private  building  or  property  is  to  be  taken 
or  used  by  the  forces  of  the  United  States,  without  pre 
vious  arrangement  with  the  owners,  and  for  a  fair 
equivalent. 

8.  Absolute  freedom  of  religious  worship  and  cere 
monies  is  solemnly  guarantied. 

CO-OPERATION  OF  THE  NAVY  IN  THE  SIEGE. 

Our  readers  will  recollect  that  on  the  arrival  of  Gene 
ral  Scott  at  Vera  Cruz,  he  was  received  and  assisted  in 
his  reconnoissance  and  landing  by  Commodore  Conner. 
Commodore  Perry  was  sent  out  to  supercede  this  gallant 
officer,  and  arriving  during  the  progress  of  the  siege,  he 
received  the  transfer  of  the  command  of  the  home  squad 
ron  from  Commodore  Conner,  on  the  21st  of  March.  On 
the  24th,  Commodore  Conner  sailed  for  the  United 
States,  with  Colonel  Totten,  as  bearer  of  despatches  to 
the  government. 

The  following  despatches  of  Commodore  Perry  will 
afford  the  reader  a  clear  view  of  the  extent  to  which  the 
navy  contributed  towards  the  triumph  of  our  country's 
arms  on  this  brilliant  occasion.  Commodore  Perry's 
despatches  are  remarkably  modest  in  feeling  and  terse 
in  expression. 

FLAG-SHIP  MISSISSIPPI,      ) 
Off  Vera  Cruz,  March  25,  1847.  j 

SIR  :  The  sailing  of  the  Princeton  this  day  for  the 
United  States  offers  me  an  opportunity  of  informing  the 
department  that  General  Scott  had,  on  the  22d  instant, 
the  day  after  I  assumed  command  of  the  squadron,  so 
far  completed  the  erection  of  his  batteries  in  the  rear  of 
Vera  Cruz  as  to  authorize  the  summoning  of  the  city, 
and  on  the  refusal  of  the  governor  to  surrender,  of 
opening  his  fire  at  three  o'clock  of  that  day. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  315 

In  conformity  with  arrangements  made-  in  the  morn 
ing  with  General  Scott,  I  directed  the  flotilla  of  small 
steamers  and  gun-boats  of  the  squadron,  led  by  Com 
mander  J.  Tatnall,  in  the  Spitfire,  to  take  a  position 
and  commence  a  simultaneous  fire  upon  the  city.  The 
order  was  promptly  and  gallantly  executed,  and  the  fire 
was  kept  up  with  great  animation  until  late  in  the  even 
ing. 

On  visi'ting  them  at  their  positron,  I  found  that  the 
two  steamers  had  nearly  exhausted  their  ammunition, 
but  having  received  a  fresh  supply  during  the  night  from 
this  ship,  they  at  sunrise  moved  to  a  more  favourable 
and  advanced  point,  and  resumed  and  continued  their 
fire  until  recalled  by  signal. 

At  the  earnest  desire  of  myself  and  officers,  General 
Scott  generously  assigned  a  position  in  the  trenches  to  be 
mounted  with  guns  from  the  squadron,  and  worked  by 
seamen.  Three  eight-inch  Paixhans  and  three  long  thirty- 
two  pounders  (all  that  was  required),  were  consequently 
landed,  and  after  immense  labour  in  transporting  them 
through  the  sand,  in  which  parties  from  the  divisions  of 
Generals  Patterson,  Worth,  and  Pillow,  respectively 
detached  by  those  officers,  cheerfully  participated,  the 
pieces  were  placed  in  position  and  opened  upon  the  city 
about  ten  o'clock  yesterday,  immediately  drawing  upon 
them  a  sharp  fire  from  the  enemy,  which  in  a  short  time 
killed  and  wounded  ten  of  the  detachment  from  the 
squadron. 

In  order  to  give  all  a  chance  to  serve  in  the  trenches, 
for  the  honour  of  which  there  is  a  great,  though  generous 
strife,  I  have  arranged  that  detachments  from  each  ship 
in  charge  respectively  of  lieutenants,  and  the  whole 
commanded  by  a  captain  or  commander,  shall  be  relieved 
every  twenty-four  hours.  Captain  Aulick,  assisted  by 


316  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF 

Commander  Mackenzie,  and  several  lieutenants,  had  the 
direction  of  mounting  the  guns  and  opening  the  fire, 
and  well  and  bravely  was  the  duty  performed.  Captain 
Mayo  is  now  in  charge  and  will  be  relieved  in  turn. 

The  Ohio  arrived  on  the  22d  instant,  but  in  conse 
quence  of  a  norther,  did  not  reach  her  proper  anchorage 
until  yesterday  afternoon.  Detachments  of  boats  from 
all  the  vessels  are  employed  night  and  day  in  landing 
from  the  transports  the  stores  and  munitions  of  the  army. 

Enclosed  is  the  list  of  killed  and  wounded  ascertained 
up  to  this  hour  (twelve  meridian),  with  the  report  of 
Captain  Aulick ;  also  a  list  of  the  sm?\ll  vessels  com 
prising  the  flotilla  of  the  squadron,  all  of  which  were 
engaged  on  the  22d  instant. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be  your  most  obedient  servant, 

M.  C.  PERRY, 
Commanding  Home  Squadron. 
Hon.  JOHN  Y.  MASON,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,      ) 
Washington  City,  D.  C.  j 

,  Friday,  March  27,  1847., 

SIR  :  The  detention  of  the  Princeton  enables  me  to 
inform  the  department  of  events  up  to  this  hour,  (ten 
A.M.) 

Captain  Mayo  and  his  party  have  returned,  having 
been  relieved  in  the  batteries  by  a  detachment  under 
Captain  Breese.  I  hardly  need  assure  the  department 
that  the  party  under  Captain  Mayo  sustained,  with  una 
bated  courage  and  spirit,  the  admirable  fire  of  the  naval 
battery.  The  bombardment  from  the  trenches  was  con 
tinued  through  the  night.  A  heavy  norther  now  blow 
ing  (the  third  in  five  days),  has  prevented  communica 
tion  with  the  shore  since  last  evening.  Several  merchant 
vessels  have  been  thrown,  this  morning,  ashore  by  the 
gale. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  SCOTT.  317 

The  report  of  Captain  Mayo  is  enclosed,  as  also  an 
additional  list  of  killed  and  wounded.  Among  the 
names  of  the  killed,  will  be  found  that  of  Midshipman 
T.  B.  Shubrick,  a  most  amiable  and  promising  young 
officer. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be  your  very  obedient  servant, 

M.  C.  PERRY, 
Commanding  Home  Squadron 

Hon.  JOHN  Y.  MASON,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,      j 
Washington  City,  D.  C.  i 

Sunday,  March  28,  1847. 

SIR  :  I  am  h^ppy  to  inform  you  that  the  city  and 
castle  of  Vera  Cruz  surrendered  yesterday  to  the  com 
bined  force  of  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United  States, 
on  terms  highly  favourable  to  us. 

With  high  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

M.  C.  PERRY, 
Commanding  Home  Squadron. 
Hon.  JOHN  Y.  MASON,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Enclosed  is  an  informal  copy  of  terms  of  capitula 
tion.  M.  C.  P. 

After  the  surrender,  General  Worth  was  appointed 
governor  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  occupied  it  with  a  part  of 
his  brigade.  He  forthwith  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
his  office,  and  commenced  establishing  a  strict  police, 
and  repressing  every  tendency  to  disorder.  The  port 
was  soon  opened  to  the  commerce  of  the  whole  world, 
and  a  tariff  of  duties  published. 

General  Scott,  with  the  main  body  of  the  army,  in  the 
mean  time  had  commenced  his  march  towards  the  city  of 
Mexico.  Such  has  been  the  military  career  of  General 
Scott  to  the  present  time.  We  have  no  doubt  that  new 


SIS  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  SCOTT. 

laurels  are  destined  to  be  won  by  him  on  the  fields  of 
Mexico. 

On  the  29th  of  March,  the  ceremonies  of  laying  down 
their  arms  and  formally  delivering  up  to  the  conquerors 
the  city  and  castle  of  Vera  Cruz,  were  performed  by  the 
Mexicans.  The  spot  selected  for  the  ceremony  of  lay 
ing  down  arms  was  a  plain  near  the  city.  The  American 
army  was  drawn  up  in  two  lines  facing  inwards,  occupy 
ing  a  mile  in  extent.  General  Worth  appeared  on  the 
field  in  full  uniform  to  direct  the  arrangements,  and 
receive  the  conquered  troops.  At  ten  o'clock  the 
Mexicans  marched  out  to  the  strains  of  their  national 
music,  the  bugle,  fife,  and  drum,  passing  between  the 
American  lines.  Women  and  children  accompanied  the 
troops,  bearing  heavy  burdens. 

The  Mexican  army  halted  between  the  American  lines, 
stacked  their  arms,  laid  down  their  colours  and  equip 
ments,  and  then  marched  off,  while  a  portion  of  General 
Worth's  division  marched  into  the  city  with  colours  fly 
ing,  and  the  military  bands  playing  national  airs. 


THE    END 


